Wedding and events space in historic Portsmouth building closer to reality

PORTSMOUTH — The owner of a historic Frank Jones Brewery building received a conditional use permit for parking on the property, supporting her plan to convert what had been second-floor office space into a wedding and events venue.

The city Planning Board voted to grant the permit to Jewell Court Properties LLC to allow 205 parking spaces where 242 are required in the city’s growing West End.

Jessica Kaiser is the principal of Jewell Court Properties and is also the founder and owner of Hawthorn Creative, which previously used the second floor of the building she owns at 33 Jewell Court for office space before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Hawthorne Creative is a “marketing firm that supports the wedding and event industry,” according to attorney Christopher Mulligan, who represented Kaiser at the recent Planning Board meeting.

Kaiser previously told Seacoastonline that when the conversion from office to wedding/event space is complete, the facility will be “a really amazing mix of our history combined with this really glamorous vibe.”

“It will be where modern meets historic, and the property will continue to tell the story of our past while celebrating our community,” she said about the wedding/event space.

Valet/shuttle service required

Mulligan told the board before it granted the conditional use permit that people who use the events space will be contractually obligated “to employ valet or shuttle parking services to mitigate the impact on the existing parking.”

The city’s Board of Adjustment previously granted Kaiser a special exception for the wedding/event space.

The approval allows her to hold events with up to 250 people, but Kaiser estimated most wouldn’t exceed 160 guests.

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She estimated there will be 25 to 35 events each year.

She noted during the recent Planning Board meeting she expects summer to be the busiest season.

Kaiser decided to change her building’s use as the demand for office space dropped and the need for wedding/event space increased, she said.

“I know the industry, I know events and events planning inside and out, and I’ve been living here for more than 20 years,” Kaiser said during a recent interview. “This space is meant for celebrations, it’s meant for this community to come together in a historic venue.”

Portsmouth West End thriving

Developer Eric Chinburg, who is also president of the condo association where Kaiser’s building is located, told the board in a letter that the association approved the new venue.

“It is with great enthusiasm that we support initiatives that enhance the community experience and provide unique spaces where individuals can gather and celebrate,” he said. “The historical nature of the property will be preserved and will allow (access) to a stunning historic event space, unlike anything else being offered here in Portsmouth.”

“I feel that the addition of a historic event venue would reinforce our commitment to building out the West End as a thriving area of town that offers a diverse mix of services,” he added.

Chinburg also credited Kaiser for her “hard work and dedication” on the project.

“We are confident that the event venue will be a valuable addition to our community, offering a range of events that cater to the diverse interests of our town,” he said.

Planning Board member Joe Almeida said he supports the project, and that it makes sense to have people shuttled to the venue space.

“Wedding parties tend to not want to drive from location to location,” Almeida said.

City Councilor Beth Moreau, who also serves on the board, made the motion to approve the conditional use permit request.

“When I first read about this considering I don’t live very far from this and drive through this neighborhood on a regular basis, I thought it was a really bad idea,” she said.

But after learning that people will have to have valet or shuttle service, “that made me actually open up my eyes” to think that it could work in the area.

“No one’s going to want to have a wedding there if they’re going to have issues with parking, so the market is going to figure that out all on its own,” Moreau said.

Board member Andrew Samonas said he likes the idea of opening a wedding/event space there.

“It will bring a lot of life to this side of town, and pull some events out of downtown into this new West End Corridor that we are excited about,” he said.

Board member Jayne Begala cast the lone no vote against granting parking CUP.

“I just feel like you could request a parking CUP or you could reduce your capacity in this event space,” she said.

Begala resigned from the board after the meeting.

History of 'Scalding Building' in Portsmouth

Kaiser’s building was built in 1850 and was called the “Scalding Building,” because it was where brewers “used to heat up these huge scalding hot rocks,” that were used to clean the beer barrels, Kaiser explained.

“There was a time when Frank Jones was the largest brewer in the United States,” she added.

The building still features “the original slate roof, the massive original beams that align the entire ceiling, the original brick walls, as well as the cupola that represent the location where the smoke was released from the smoldering rocks that used to clean the beer barrels before being filled with beer,” Kaiser said recently.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth wedding and events in historic building gains key approval