New Building Would Include Restaurant, Rooftop Event Space, Recording Studio

Fatima Laster is transforming the Five Points neighborhood one building at a time.

After tackling a former funeral home, she’s set her sights on a fire-damaged mixed-use building. The new, $1.8 million project calls for a restaurant, recording studio, event space and four apartments.

Laster, who grew up in the area, converted the former Johnson-Goolsby Funeral Home at 3514 N. Port Washington Ave. into gallery space and artist studios, 5 Points Gallery + Studios, with two apartments above. It opened in 2019, allowing Laster to merge her artistic painting skills, interior design project (FKL Designs) and construction management knowledge.

Like the neighborhood, the gallery is named for intersection of N. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., W. Keefe Ave., N. Atkinson Ave., and N. 6th St. N. Port Washington Ave. runs north-south just to its east, separated only by vacant lots.

Laster had planned to redevelop a vacant, city-owned building. The city took possession of the two-story building at 3765-3769 N. Port Washington Ave. in 2016. But in Nov. 2020 a fire took place in the building. The blaze caused significant damage, particularly to the structural integrity of the building, according to a Department of City Development report.

“My preference is to restore historical buildings,” said Laster on Tuesday to members of the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee. “But the fire made it less economical to do so.” The city assessment record says the building was constructed in 1909.

The Department of Neighborhood Services expects to demolish the building in December, with DCD then selling it to Laster for $1. The zoning committee unanimously endorsed the sale.

Laster intends to construct a three-story building. The first floor would include a restaurant and podcast/recording studio. The second floor would include three apartments with six total bedrooms. The third floor would include a fitness room, event space and rooftop deck and a two-bedroom apartment.

“There is no zoning change. It was already a mixed-use building,” said Laster.

She’s a 2017 graduate of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program designed to train women and minorities for careers in real estate. Laster was previously a project manager before opening the gallery complex. She led the general contracting on the 5 Points project.

“I know that Ms. Laster has been a strong advocate against gentrification causing displacement,” said area Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs. “I appreciate the fact that she has found additional property in the same neighborhood she grew up in.”

“I think it will be a great addition to the neighborhood,” said Coggs.

The development agreement requires Laster to complete the development project by June 2023. The full Common Council is scheduled to consider the proposal on Nov. 23.

Photos and Rendering