Council approves Van Hook Hall coffee shop and short‑term rental request at 153 Briarfield; other short‑term rental matters mixed

Biloxi City Council voted to allow a small coffee shop in a corner of Van Hook Hall and approved a conditional‑use request to convert an existing single‑family residence at 153 Briarfield Avenue into a short‑term rental, while another short‑term rental request failed to receive a second for discussion.

Van Hook Hall coffee shop: Councilmember Gray moved the conditional‑use approval for a small, noncooking coffee shop within the ground floor of Van Hook Hall; Councilmember Tisdale seconded. Council discussion noted approvals by the Development Review Committee and the Architectural/Historic Review Commission; one councilmember clarified that the project would require an exterior handicap ramp. The motion passed unanimously.

Short‑term rental decisions: A separate resolution to authorize an existing single‑family residence at 153 Briarfield Avenue as a short‑term rental passed unanimously after council members noted the neighborhood already has multiple short‑term rentals. “This place is literally surrounded with short term rentals,” a councilmember said. By contrast, the council attempted to move a request for 115 Saint John Avenue but the motion failed for lack of a second and did not advance.

Why it matters: The Van Hook Hall approval affects reuse of a historic building and includes exterior accessibility work. The short‑term rental approvals and denials reflect ongoing council oversight of short‑term rental distribution within neighborhoods; staff noted concentrations of short‑term rentals in multiple blocks and provided counts to the council.

Next steps: staff will process building‑permit and historic‑review conditions for Van Hook Hall's exterior ramp and will monitor compliance and permitting for approved short‑term rentals.