The owners of New England Brewing Co. have decided to cancel their agreement with the city of West Haven to relocate to the former Savin Rock Conference Center, as confirmed by Mayor Nancy Rossi.
City officials have indicated that a revised lease arrangement was withdrawn due to a lack of support from certain city council members, a few members of the Land Trust of West Haven, and an appeal filed by the proprietors of Jimmies of Savin Rock restaurant.
Mayor Rossi expressed in a statement that the majority of the city’s residents and businesses endorsed the relocation, with many voicing their support for the project during council meetings.
Marty Juliano, Director of Business Development for New England Brewing Co., revealed that the brewery is currently exploring two other relocation offers, although specific locations were not disclosed.
“Numerous residents have expressed their desire for development, and I presented them with a development they could take pride in. However, a few City Council members, along with a couple of Land Trust members and the appeal from the owners of Jimmies, derailed it,” Rossi lamented.
The City Council had initially unanimously approved the original lease agreement, allowing the city to retain ownership of the four-plus-acre property at 6 Rock St., a prime waterfront location. Under the terms of the agreement, the developer would have had the opportunity to demolish the existing conference center and construct a new building housing a brewery, taproom, and event space.
Mayor Rossi clarified that Jimmies at Savin Rock initiated legal action against the developer, contesting property setbacks. In response, the developer, Doug Gray, revised the original plans to encompass the footprint of the existing structure. However, this revision resulted in a significant reduction in the scale of the project.
