We were cruising down Fabric Row the other day and spotted an orange sign at 768 S. 4th St., a building at the corner of 4th & Fulton. We'd have to imagine that a fabric store of some kind once made its home on the first floor of this building, but the retail space has been empty for at least a decade, and we're pretty sure the rest of the building hasn't seen much action either. Seeing the orange sign, we were excited because we made the assumption that redevelopment was on the horizon. But when we examined the sign a little more closely, we realized that it was not a notice announcing a ZBA hearing, but it was instead advertising some L&I Violations.
The building has indeed accrued a collection of violations since 2013, including for wall and window maintenance, lack of a vacant property license, and a bulging wall. We don't imagine the building to be structurally compromised, but based on the list of violations it could trend in that direction if the property owners don't make repairs. As you're surely aware, if a building becomes imminently dangerous the City will step in and tear it down, and such a fate would indeed be a shame for this building that boasts some wonderful original exterior details.
That being said, a renovation would be wonderful for this property. Ideally, we'd like to see it brought back as mixed-use space with ground floor retail and an apartment or two upstairs. We don't imagine that a fabric store would be the tenant of choice, but we've seen some real non-fabric retail growth on Fabric Row over the last few years and another business would certainly be a welcome addition to the corridor. Any business or resident that comes into this building would have views of a great mural on the day care across the street, and easy access to the underrated and excellent Red Hook Coffee on the other side of 4th Street.
Of course, for that to happen, the current owner will have to put a bunch of money into the building or list it for sale. Barring either of those things though, the building will continue to sit vacant, as it already has for so many years.