Adaptive Brew-Use

The Associated Press explores the trend of churches rebuilt as breweries.

1 minute read

October 10, 2017, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Haarlem, Ntherlands

Jopenkerk (Kerk translates to church; Jopen is the brand) in Haarlem, Netherlands is located in an old church. | Marcelo Campi / Flickr

Dake King reports for the Associated Press on the growing number of vacant churches repurposed as breweries—bars included.

According to the story, at least ten breweries have made adaptive reuse of old churches around the United States since 2011. King find the latest example in a new brewery soon to open in an old Presbyterian church in Youngstown, Ohio, and explores the example of Church Brew Works in Pittsburgh, which opened in 1996.

King also speaks to critics of this form of adaptive reuse who don't think alcohol should be served in former houses of worship.

Friday, October 6, 2017 in Associated Press via Miami Herald

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30, 2026 - Yale Environment 360

Nithya Ramen talks to an older man. She is smiling and wearing a yellow dress. They are both outside.

Los Angeles just elected an urban planner as its mayor

Transportation analysts are optimistic that Raman will be more aggressive in addressing transit issues than Bass.

4 hours ago - Los Angeles Times

Mamdani behind a microphone, in front of a snowbank

Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax survives legal challenge

A panel of judges found that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate injury as a result of New York City's implementation of the tax.

November 6 - CNN

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6 - Grist

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.