The CEO of Steamworks Brewing wants to build a parklet outside his North Burnaby brewery.
Eli Gershkovitch presented his idea to Burnaby city council Monday, calling the idea “a chance to enhance our community.”
Parklets are patio areas built in public on-street parking areas, usually financed and maintained by private property owner, he explained. Gershkowitch said many other cities – including Vancouver, Montreal, Bellingham and San Francisco – already have successful parklet programs.
The brewer asked the city to start a pilot program by allowing Steamworks to build a parklet outside its William Street brewery. He said most people know his company’s brewpub in Vancouver’s Gastown, but don’t realize the bulk of its brewing happens in Burnaby.
“What we want to do is engage the public; we want to let the world know that we really are from Burnaby,” he said. “We want to be outward facing in terms of our interaction and our relationship with our home community. We don’t want to be hiding behind cinder blocks.”
The parklet would be open 24/7 to the public, he said.
“You can bring a coffee; you can read a book; you can bring your own lunch,” he said.
Council directed staff to study the issue and report to the city’s planning and development about a potential pilot program.
