Affordable Grocery Options Could Be Scarce With Potential Residential Project On 5th Avenue Key Food Site

One of the largest grocery stores in Park Slope could become a residential and smaller commercial space if Avery Hall Investments buys the current Key Food parcel at 120 5th Avenue (at Sterling Place).

DNAinfo reports that Avery Hall spokesperson Ethan Geto hopes that the firm “will build a residential and commercial development that will include some affordable housing.” The project could avoid certain difficult steps that come with real estate developments, as Geto said “the project would not require a zoning change and wouldn’t trigger the city’s public land use review process.”

The deal may not close for another year, but this already brings concerns about where affordable groceries will be available in a neighborhood filled with upscale grocery stores, and how far will one have to walk to get them.

The Key Food on 7th Avenue (130 7th Avenue at Carroll Street) certainly is one option. And the Park Slope Food Coop (782 Union Street between 6th and 7th Avenues) is affordable if you are a member. Union Market (754 Union Street at 6th Avenue) is relatively close as well, but is far pricier than Key Food options.

Associated (216 5th Avenue between Union and President Streets) and C-Town (329 9th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues) both have relatively affordable prices.

Jo, Brian, and Joseph’s Key Food is a hike up to 493 5th Avenue at 12th Street. The option-laden Whole Foods at 214 3rd Avenue (at 3rd Street) is well-known for its expensive selections. In addition, Pathmark in Gowanus at 12th Street and 2nd Avenue was recently sold to a new owner who does not have plans to have a grocery store on the parcel, as was recently reported by DNAinfo.

Our neighborhood is certainly not the only one to struggle with these issues. Fort Greene Focus, our sister site, has been tracking the developments, closings, and hopefully potential re-openings of grocery stores in that area (Key Food included), and the toll it takes on the elderly residents of the neighborhood.

We’ve reached out to Avery Hall for further comment but have not yet heard back.

How would the loss of the 5th Avenue Key Food affect you? Where would you choose to shop for your groceries in the area? How far would you have to walk, and how far do you think is reasonable to walk to a grocery store?