Michigan Brewing Company: We Want to be a Good Neighbor

Michigan Brewing Company officials want beer brewing, not bad blood.

That’s why brewer/general manager of the old fire hall project Bill Tadrick is glad to say he has with Fenton United Methodist Church Officials over their .

“They had legitimate concerns,” said Tadrick, who declined to explain details. “We addressed those concerns and we came to the agreement that they would drop their opposition. We want the same things for the community as they do.”

Church officials could not be reached for this or any other previous stories on the issue.

“We realized we were on the same page, so it looks like it’s going to work out,” Tadrick said.

Tadrick added that he and other met with architects Thursday as well and looked at some preliminary drawings and numbers.

Crews won’t begin construction until the alcohol license is approved, something that Tadrick and Fenton Downtown Development Authority director Michael Burns believe will happen. The process is likley to take another month or two.

“While the church has the legal right to object, I was confident this project was going to happen anyways,” Burns said. “I am still confident it’s going to happen.”

Burns said the location is a key spot to unite Dibbleville and the north section of Leroy Street.

Tadrick said officials target June 2012 to open.

“We are very excited,” Tadrick said. “Construction will probably begin in the fall. The concrete will be poured before winter and then we will move indoors, finishing outdoors in the spring.”

The Liquor Control Commission received the objection from the church on May 18.

“We feel as the liquor control would have likely granted us the license regardless, but we want to be sensitive to our neighbors and have a good relationship. We’d rather have it like this than go through adversity.