East Lyme — When a trio of central Connecticut craft beer brewers decided to open Five Churches by the Bay on the street level of the Morton House, the whole idea was that the bar would look out onto Niantic Bay.

Andy Sklavouris, co-owner of Five Churches Brewery and Taproom in New Britain, said the plan is to use expansive, rolling doors to open up the front-facing portion of the Main Street building to views of the bay. That's why he's concerned about plans by Amtrak to replace fencing along the tracks with the new company standard for deterring trespassers and mitigating the risk of fatalities.

The proposed replacement for the current chain-link fencing is 8-foot-tall, black metal fencing with thick, narrowly spaced pickets that critics say are difficult to see through.

"I hope it doesn't change because that's the whole premise of our idea," Sklavouris said. "I don't want it to be called Five Churches by the Fence."

The new Morton House tenants said they hope to open by Independence Day.

Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams earlier this month said the project, initially slated to begin in late February, won't happen until later this year due to ongoing talks with the town. He said Friday that the statement still stands.

The concerns of Sklavouris, other Main Street business owners, residents and local officials were bolstered Friday by a visit from U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal. The senator stood on the promenade of Main Street Park with the bay behind him as he called for Amtrak to work with the town in choosing a fence that incorporates both safety and aesthetics.

He acknowledged safety is crucial and that any instances of unauthorized access to the tracks are too many. There have been five calls for trespassing on the tracks in town since 2020, according to police Chief Mike Finkelstein.

"But there are ways to build a fence, there are ways to achieve safety, there are ways to protect people that can be done consistent with a view of the Sound," Blumenthal said.

Teri Smith, owner of Smith's Acres garden center and a Main Street homeowner, said she hears criticism about Amtrak's replacement plan from customers all the time. "They don't want that ugly fence," she said. "They want what we've got."

Smith, who serves as treasurer of the nonprofit Niantic Main Street merchant's group, was involved in the conversion of the former Mobil gas station site to Main Street Park in 2018. Volunteers took care in selecting black, chain-link fencing that came closest to disappearing into the view.

The rest of the fence in the planned replacement area — which spans the Niantic River Bridge abutment to just short of Hole in the Wall Beach — is made up of aging, metal chain link.

"Obviously we know the rest of that fence needs to be replaced," Smith said. "It's needed replacement for years. But there has to be something between what they're proposing and what's there now."

She suggested the solution is the black, chain-link fencing that worked so well for Main Street Park.

First Selectman Kevin Seery reached out to Amtrak officials last month to find out what type of fencing was being considered and to try to ensure that the relatively new Main Street Park section is not touched by the replacement project. Blumenthal subsequently followed up with a letter to Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner asking the company to look at multiple design options and to engage the community in the process.

Blumenthal on Friday told The Day he'll be reaching out to Amtrak for an update in a week or two. "If nothing else, I'm going to ask the president and CEO to come out here and visit to see for himself what could be lost if he fails to heed the plea," he said.

Niantic resident Mary Farrell was on Main Street Friday afternoon to take in the view like she does four to five times each week. She described herself as horrified by the train company's choice in fencing, which she said would prevent her from getting the "bay fix" that gives her a much-needed sense of peace.

"That's Niantic," she said. "It gives you everything you need for a few minutes to get away from the world."

e.regan@theday.com