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The opening of a new restaurant in Purcellville’s old town business district encountered various problems.

Although most of the exterior upgrades made by the new owners of the former Jack's Run Brewer building on North 21st Street were approved, the building review committee opposed the plan to whitewash the red brick building. Part of the painting work on the building has already started, but stopped last month after the owner learned that approval from the town was needed. As a condition of approval on October 28, BAR requires the owner to cooperate with experts to remove the paint.

This request caused opposition from the owner Shane O'Connor, who established Bia Kitchen in this 120-year-old two-story building, a gourmet restaurant and cocktail bar that has been working for more than a year.

He asked the city council for help.

"They suggested contacting the protectionist group that recently worked in the U.S. Capital Building to remove graffiti from the January 6 uprising. This is not an option," O'Connor wrote in a letter to the committee. "We have invested 2 years and US$2.7 million in building restoration, restaurant construction and operation with first-class design and craftsmanship. We are now using 110-year-old windows, pilasters and other recently recycled materials for additional investment4 Ten thousand U.S. dollars is used for the exterior walls of the building."

The restaurant owner who ran the Blackthorne Inn and Restaurant in Upville questioned the town’s commitment to bringing in new businesses and investments.

"When I shared with BAR that we could not afford the high cost of hiring professional protection personnel to remove paint, their immediate and somewhat disrespectful response was that the cost was not their concern or problem," he wrote. "In my opinion, they do not appreciate or understand the real restoration work of historic buildings or the economic development of our towns. What is disappointing is that they would rather see commercial buildings abandoned and deteriorated than support those who try to save them. The efforts of building people. In addition, our project will significantly improve the urban area, bring a high percentage of income to the town, and will be welcomed by the entire community."

Although other brick buildings along North 21st Street were painted, including several white buildings, BAR tried to maintain the red brick appearance.

"BAR took this action to protect the original exterior walls of the historic city center," urban planner Andy Cologne wrote in a staff report to the council.

“The staff and BAR are aware of the products and technologies that can be used to remove masonry paint. BAR stated that if these products or technologies prove to be too expensive or ineffective, they will consider approving appropriate colors for painting the building.”

When discussing this issue on Tuesday night, the board members agreed to let the issue be staged at the BAR level, but made it clear that they would not slow down the paint debate or hinder the opening of new restaurants.

The building review team also took this position and stated in its motion for approval, “Before the issue is resolved, BAR has no intention to refuse to occupy the building.”

When you must seek permission to whitewash a building that you lease or own, it's clear that the government has gone beyond any reasonable boundaries of property rights. Historically, the building has been painted and removed and painted at different times. This should be a decision between the landlord and the tenant, not a decision between towns. If you want to reduce prosperity, impose meaningless and arbitrary rules on entrepreneurs.

I hope this will prove to be a storm in the teapot and be resolved in the near future. It's nice to know that no supervisory authority tried to prevent the grand opening of Bia Kitchen. Obviously, the owner attaches great importance to this adventure. If he had worked in Upwell before, he wouldn't work day and night. Indeed, the partially painted walls do not match the historic Purcellville. (The Purcell family must be rolling in their graves.) But I don't think this clumsiness will ruin the transaction. By the way, if they offer vegetarian/vegetarian fares, I would be honored to be able to eat there one day if I have the opportunity.

Hogwash's comment on 21st Street's architectural changes that caused the Purcell family to roll in the grave. Except for 2 other brick buildings on this street, all buildings have been painted. The town recently approved the repainting of the Nichol's Hardware building. Since its establishment, BAR has been out of control.

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