GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales is working on plans for a location in Grand Rapids' expanding brew district on Bridge Street.

The Dexter-based Northern United Brewing Company, which owns Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peak Brewing Co. and Grizzly Peak Brewing Co., is eyeing the former Red Lion building at 449 Bridge St. NW.

That site - as well as the three adjacent, vacant parcels to the west: 453, 457 and 499 Bridge St. NW - are all owned by Swift Realty LLC, according to Kent County property records.

Jolly Pumpkin's architect on the project, Tom Nemitz of Cornerstone Architects, will be in front of the Grand Rapids Engineering Departments' Design Team Jan. 11 to discuss streetscape plans for the project.

Construction will start in spring of 2017, according to a project filing with the city.

Jolly Pumpkin approached Swift Realty owner and Bridge Street champion Walt Gutowski about the property, he said.

"I'm very particular with who I'll work with to make the street what it is," Gutowski said. "I have been hugely impressed with the ownership of Jolly Pumpkin."

Gutowski said he met with Jolly Pumpkin and Harmony Brewing representatives over lunch at Harmony Hall.

Gutowski is still in negotiations with Jolly Pumpkin for the space - and the terms of the deal would require the Red Lion building to stay. The Red Lion restaurant closed in 2004.

Gutowski said he's heard plans for a Jolly Pumpkin restaurant-brewery combination, similar to the Traverse City location. The deal has not yet closed for the property - and negotiations are ongoing for the three parcels of parking lot west of the Red Lion.

"I want to make sure that everyone that lives on the West Side are still welcome on the West Side," Gutowski said.

Gutowski turned down a higher offer for the Red Lion, because "it was just going to be a bar."

Though no official plans are on file yet, city planners have previously met with Jolly Pumpkin representatives - and are planning to meet again with them this week, city staff said.

Jolly Pumpkin representatives declined to comment. The brewery started in Dexter and has a tap room there, along with locations in Ann Arbor, Detroit and Traverse City.

The project, which involves a potential restaurant with a possible outdoor beer garden, will likely be in front of the city's Planning Commission in February for review, staff said.

Should the project move forward, Jolly Pumpkin would join a growing brewery district on Bridge Street that's already home to several longstanding bars.

Jolly Pumpkin is in the midst of an expansion - with plans for its first out-of-state location in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood near the University of Chicago.

Northern United Brewing Co. is also planning to locate one of its Michigan brewery brands in CEO Tony Grant's hometown of Bay City at the former Stein Haus pub and Atrium restaurant at Third and Water streets.

Northern United Brewing Co., which was formed from three separate entities -- Grizzly Peak Brewing Co., Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and North Peak Brewing Co. -- in 2008, is based in Dexter, near Ann Arbor.