BY SCOTT STIFFLER | Decades of advocacy to reimagine the swath of Seventh Ave. occupied by a group of derelict buildings resulted in July 26, 2022’s ceremonial groundbreaking at 201-207 Seventh Ave. (corner of W. 22nd St.). Now—after years of construction and the impending return of former occupants alongside new residents arriving via housing lottery—the search is underway for commercial tenants.

In a series of email exchanges with Chelsea Community News (CCNews), a spokesperson for project facilitator Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) noted there are two retail spaces available: One with 725sf on the main floor, and another 620sf in the basement. The second commercial space offers 625sf on the ground floor, and another 539sf in the basement. The ideal placement would see two local retailers on site, or one tenant whose business would account for the entire available square footage. AAFE noted that they, through affiliated organization Renaissance Economic Development Corp, have “a long history of supporting small business. So it’s important to us that these businesses meet community needs and provide opportunities to local entrepreneurs.”

Recalling an April 28 phone conversation with Nelson Chan (AAFE Managing Director, Real Estate), Save Chelsea president and Manhattan Community Board 4 (MCB4) public member Pamela Wolff noted Chan “called to sound me out about possible tenants for the retail space. He said they had a nibble from a very high-end wine store, and a nail salon.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Wolff said she lacks enthusiasm for a local landscape with no shortage of nail maintenance merchants, and cautioned that any store selling alcohol should not be a source of competition for Chelsea Wine Cellar, located just a block away on the corner of Seventh Ave. and West 21st Street.

That said, recalled Wolff, Chan “opened the door for us to come up with ideas for possible tenants. I asked what the rents are, and he said he’d get back to me… I asked how soon we could expect a ribbon cutting–a general opening of the building–and he said they were waiting for a few more government sign-offs.” 

AAFE also recently contacted MCB4 for input on viable commercial tenants. MCB4 District Manager Jesse Bodine confirmed that in an April 22 email to CCNews, stating, “AAFE has reached out to me and I am setting up an initial call with them…to discuss ideas and possible partnerships.”

Members of the public are encouraged to submit their own ideas–from the general to the specific–as to what sort of tenant (or tenants) they’d like to see occupy the available space. Public input should be sent via email to askaafe@aafe.org.

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