Mural, And Then a Restaurant, at 109 Gates Avenue
The renovation of 109 Gates Avenue at St. James Place in Clinton Hill has been on the slow-track since we moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago. A group of investors bought the building in February 2005 for $1,100,000 and, after several months of planning and (presumably) navigating the Landmarks process started a…
The renovation of 109 Gates Avenue at St. James Place in Clinton Hill has been on the slow-track since we moved into the neighborhood a couple of years ago. A group of investors bought the building in February 2005 for $1,100,000 and, after several months of planning and (presumably) navigating the Landmarks process started a gut renovation. With the renovation only partially finished, the owners flipped the building in December 2006 for $2,000,000 (which seems pricey to us). While they continue the renovation, the new owners decided to allow the plywood fence on the corner property to be turned into a mural. Which is why this past weekend a bunch of neighbors (including many kids) turned out with paintbrushes in hand. The group art project is documented in great detail in the Flickr photoset below. Perhaps even more exciting is that the new owners plan on turning the ground-floor commercial space (which was a bodega until a fire destroyed much of the building a few years ago) into a high-end restuarant.
2007 Block Party Mural Photoset [Flickr] GMAP P*Shark
Word! We need a bagel / coffee place on the way to the subway over here in Southern CH. And a German restaurant.
Wowsers, I live on that block, and have walked by that plywood EVERY day for going on three years … please keep us in the loop B-Stoner on the plans for the ground floor – I had been thinking coffee and bagels would be good for that location, on the way to the subway. The building reno has been done well, though indeed glacially slow – Marvin windows throughout (front, back, side, bay, etc.), for example. All VERY exciting!!
That would be awesome if a restaurant opened there. Wish they would develop the spot on Gates and Downing across from that pitiful video shop.
for more information about this mural project and other future projects, please contact me through: http://www.elliebalk.com.
The fire happened in summer of 2001, if I’m not mistaken. I’m sooo tired of the plywood and scaffolding–let’s hope some real progress is finally being made.
Our neighbor who is the architect on this project was having a public meltdown/hissyfit the other day (which is startlingly common and hardly elicits notice, let alone concern) because the retail space on the ground floor is not being finished according to Landmarks approved plans. i peered behind the plywood fence and indeed it DOES seem very unlikely that the design they’ve chosen would be awarded Landmarks approval.
I hope this doesn’t cripple the process; I’ve lived on the block for 4 years and watched the glacial pace of the reno job. Whatever happens, I’d be happy to see the shed/scaffolding disappear.
That’s one very short block from Locanda — Gates Ave is the new Smith Street. Now if only we could get a nail salon on Fulton.
It is such a great property, I will be really glad to see it utilized. I am shocked to learn it sold for 2 million.
I heard that it might be a German restaurant.