Crazy Mocha shop could fill vacant N. Side building
Share with others:
After years of vetting, and fretting over, blighted properties at North Avenue and Federal Street, Central North Siders got their first specific proposal -- a Crazy Mocha coffee shop -- at last night's meeting of the neighborhood council.
Bill Barron, whose Barron Commercial Real Estate has renovated a dozen properties in Lawrenceville, said he wants the council's endorsement to propose a plan to the Urban Redevelopment Authority, owner of the property at 2 E. North Ave.
When its lettering could be read clearly, it was the Park View Cafe. One of the area's few one-story buildings, it has been boarded up for years, recently a backdrop for bedrolls and bundles of the homeless people.
Last year, former Steeler Franco Harris had an option on the property and considered a restaurant there, but the URA rescinded his option in October, said Kyra Straussman, the authority's real estate director. "It was a mutual decision."
Mr. Harris could not be reached for comment.
"I think it's a good time and a good property for what I want to do," said Mr. Barron, who has an informal agreement with Crazy Mocha's owner, who rents a property from him elsewhere in the city.
A market evaluation is pending.
Crazy Mocha is a local chain distinguished by its logo of a goat drinking coffee. Ken Zeff has established 20 locations since starting the company in March 2000. A 21st is under construction Downtown, where 10 shops exist now.
The North Side location is "challenging," he said, but "it's an interesting corner. The potential of the North Side and the amount of traffic at that intersection will help that building light up a greater scheme of things. It would be great to be part of that."
Across Federal Street, developer Jim Aiello Jr. has options on four or five properties than run northward toward Allegheny General Hospital's orthopedic annex.
Mr. Aiello said that 4 W. North Ave., a three-story building facing North, would be restored and that all the properties he is interested in along Federal, from the western corner of North back, would be demolished. New construction would attempt to replicate the architectural character of the buildings to be razed.
He said he has been approached by two coffee shops and the chain Pizza Solo, which is in the South Side, East Liberty and Oakland, "an upscale, New York-style pizza place."
Ms. Straussman said the plan "is to put a bank on the corner and preserve some of the facades along Federal, with rental above and retail below."
She said Mr. Aiello has a track record of historic renovations, including a former art supplies store at Highland and Centre avenues in East Liberty, now a bank, and the Catalyst Building on 40th and Foster streets in Lawrenceville, which is currently vacant.
First Published January 13, 2009 12:00 am
