Proposed Greencastle DORA District fails to gain support

Aguirre said all downtown restaurants, including the likes of The Whisk, Almost Home and Lost Hollow were in favor of the measure. 

An opportunity to help local businesses and create a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in Greencastle failed to gain traction by the city council Thursday night despite two councilors working months on the initiative. 

Councilman Vincent Aguirre and Councilwoman Katherine Asbell had worked for months to drum up support for the DORA District, which would allow individuals 21 years old and over to purchase alcoholic beverages from approved vendors and retail establishments and carry them outside to be consumed within the DORA District. 

"We talked a few months back and formed a committee. We are asking for one DORA District that would allow people to walk around the district with drinks during designated hours. We are seeking the initial hours to be Thursday through Sunday from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. People would be able to go to any business in the area with the DORA cups," Aguirre told council as he introduced the measure. 

Aguirre said all downtown restaurants, including the likes of The Whisk, Almost Home and Lost Hollow were in favor of the measure. 

"Taco Wapo and The Putnam Inn had not submitted paperwork yet. Nobody told us no," Aguirre said. 

However, after some back and forth among council members, Aguirre made a motion stating he was making the motion, "in support of small business owners who really need help," and got a second from Asbell. However, the motion died by a vote of 4-2. Aguirre and Asbell voted in favor, while council members David Masten, Stacie Langdon, Mark Hammer and Darrel Thomas voted against. Councilwoman Tina Nicholson was absent. 

"I am disappointed for our business owners. They really needed a shot in the arm. They need some help right now, and they were really excited about this. I hope they come next we bring this back. We will tweak it and bring something new. I hope the business owners come and make their voice heard because they overwhelmingly support this and they need it," Aguirre told The Putnam County Post after the vote. 

Masten raised concerns about the proposed district extending from Lost Hollow to The Whisk and then to the Putnam Inn and all points in between. 

"My issue is it's sprawled out. It needs to be narrowed to downtown," Masten said. 

Aguirre said excluding anyone would be a shame. 

"Publicly they said it is a little expansive right now. The next step is to see what we can reel in. The Putnam Inn was mentioned particularly and it's a little far out. Personally, I think it's important to include them, but if we need to cut them out to get it passed, it is a shame. We need to get it passed. I hope all business owners show up and make their voices heard. We are to represent the community and a lot of those business owners live in our city and vote in city elections. I hope it doesn't get to that point, but we have to vote for those who represent us and, right now, the business owners aren't being represented," Aguirre said. 

As for Thomas and Langdon, their votes hinged on the optics of people walking around downtown Greencastle with alcoholic beverages in their hands while shopping after Aguirre said the DORA District would allow residents an opportunity to have a beer at a restaurant and go shop at a neighboring store with their drink.

"I don't need a beer in my hand to go shop," Thomas fired back. 

Langdon said the district did not fit her "vision for Greencastle" and that she did not like the optics of people walking around with alcoholic beverages. That generated a comment from Thomas. 

"Come to Greencastle. You can shop and have beer," Thomas said. 

Aguirre noted the proposed measure would make drinking downtown more restrictive and reminded his fellow council members that downtown businesses wanted it. 

With the measure dead for now, Aguirre admitted it was "back to the drawing board."

"We will make some tweaks and, probably have to adjust the boundaries in some capacity to make people happy, but we will bring it back to the council and see what we can do," Aguirre said.