Developments on Pacific Street
Credit: Nostrandpark.com
We spotted the awning for the Pacific Street Cafe during a stroll down Nostrand this past weekend. It was clear from the brown paper covering a couple of the windows that the shop was not yet running. We tried to peek into the one open window to figure out what was going on inside, but our efforts were in vain. So we pestered a couple of the residents hanging out on the corner until we found one gentleman who seemed to have the skinny. He offered that the establishment will be a coffee shop owned by the developers of the new condo development up the street (1311 Pacific Street).
Seeing as the café and the condos have a similar brown and white color scheme, his speculations seemed plausible. It would be a pretty smart move on the part of the developer – if you are trying to attract a “coffee shop crowd” to an area without any coffee shops, just build one yourself.
We tried to do a little digging into the condo development. We found the following info on Curbed dating back to May:
…This time the elevators are internal to the building, so tenants don’t have to freeze while waiting to go down during a blizzard. The exterior access stairs are more separate from the adjacent balconies and exterior entries to the apartments, making the whole arrangement a little more private. The 32 units will hit the market as soon as the condo offering plan is approved…
Credit: Nostandpark.com
Apparently the neighborhood is being billed as Prospect Heights … we’ll save the diatribe on that one for another post.
Brownstoner posted some listing information on the development back in July. According to Property Shark the asking price for many of the units has actually increased over the months, which is generally indicates a demand for the units. But, the commentors on Curbed weren’t too positive about the condos. Then again they also weren’t too positive about our neighborhood. Anyone who’s seen the development have any insight?
Popularity: 10% [?]
these condos are cheaply constructed and a disgrace to the beautiful architectural tradition of the area. all of the units are studio apartments, so it will be available to young single people and not families.
it is also like 6 blocks from anything that would possibly be considered prospect heights.
honestly, i preferred the empty lot. at least that was not aiding gentrification and the displacement of families that have lived in the area for generations.
Hey, this is interesting news. I post occasionally on Brownstoner, writing about growing up in Crown Heights during the 50s and early 60s. This is my old block!
I’ve visited Pacific Street between Nostrand and New York three or four times in the past 25 years — most recently a few months ago. The street’s undergone a lot of change. Years ago it was in very bad shape. Now, with the new condos and the renovation of a few formerly-abandoned buildings, it seems poised for its next era as a mixed-income block of families and singles. A good thing, I think, as long as there are enough affordable rents for both old-timers and newcomers looking for reasonable places to live.
Where exactly is the coffee shop? On my last visit, there was an empty shop just shy of the northwest corner of the block, not on Nostrand but on Pacific. Back in the day it was a shoe repair shop, one of my favorite places in the neighborhood because of all the machinery and noise (and the nice old guy who ran it).
I have met at least one current resident of the block and my guess is she’ll be pleased with the coffee shop. Nostrand Avenue used to be a diverse retail street, with pretty much everything families needed. It’ll be interesting to see if it can provide an alternative to the "upscale" places on Vanderbilt and Fifth Avenues as the neighborhood’s demographics change.
Thanks, NostrandPark, for focusing on Crown Heights.
I hope to drop in from time to time.
What a coincidence NOP! I actually read your posts on Brownstoner quite often. And in doing research for this piece I came across one of your comments on Bstoner and was thinking that it would be great if you shared here too! So it’s nice that you ventured this way.
If you ever have any other insights about the Crown Heights of yore, we’d love to feature them on the front page. I personally would love to hear more about Nostrand/Franklin Avenue back in the day and even your take on the changes. You can email us at nostrandpark@gmail.com.
Anyways, to answer your question the coffee shop is on the north east side of Pacific.
Actually, I meant the northeast corner! So this may be the old shoe repair shop after all.
I’ll check in and see when I can add a comment or two. Spent a little time going through your archive. Good blog!
Hi, like NOP, I also love your blog, and its positive energy in our neighborhood. In answer to the cafe and condo question, I have to disagree with the first poster. These condos are not cheaply made, and actually look good on the block. Anyone who is familiar with my posts on Brownstoner knows I am an architectural nut, and pretty much would preserve almost anything, but the lot has been empty for about 50 years, literally, and was an eyesore. I live on this block, and I’m glad to see the condos. The developer is a great guy who took the time to hire some local people, meet and greet anyone who asked about the place, and show them around, and get to know everyone. He’s going to live there when it’s done, so that shows a commitment to the community, not just to build, make money and disappear. The coffee shop is also a commitment. Sure, he’s hoping his condo people will patronize, but he also wants something for the rest of us who have been pining for a coffee shop on or near Nostrand, but closer to Atlantic. He hired a local guy and his brother to run it, and I plan on being there opening day, whenever that is, to support them.
My philosophy is this – change is coming to CHN, whether us relative old timers like it or not. You can either work with it, get to know those who are affecting it, try to modify it if necessary, or stand around and complain while it runs over you. Our community is beautiful, and has a rich architectural and cultural history that need to be preserved. But it also has problems and some things could use some improving. A coffee shop is a good thing, a quality of life thing that is missing on the Nostrand corridor, especially near the Pacific, Dean, Bergen area. Bring it on!
Any update on this cafe? I walked by today and the picture looked the same.
Nothing much to report. A couple of months back a person connected to the development told me that they are looking for someone to take over the coffee shop. I wasn’t clear if they just wanted to get someone to manage it or they were looking for someone to buy it. But since then I’ve heard nothing.
I’ve been in these condos. I think they are pretty sturdy, but they really are built for single people or childless couples only. There is no room to grow, unless you are planning on purchasing two units on the same floor,and then, the only access from one apartment to the other is the elevator bank or the terrace areas. That doesn’t really work for families with kids.
That having been said, they seem sturdy, and would be a great starter apartment as you can purchase them fully furnished from IKEA. Not sure how the furniture will hold up over time, or whether that esthectic will still be in vogue in another 5 years, but starting out as a first place, its not bad.