Shabazz: Atlantic City's Long-Vacant Knights of Columbus Building Has Reached a ‘Boiling Point’

ATLANTIC CITY — As new housing, restaurants and businesses rise around Atlantic City's Orange Loop, one prominent Pacific Avenue building continues to stand largely untouched.

Atlantic City Councilman Kaleem Shabazz says patience may be running out.

The long-vacant former Knights of Columbus building at 1408 Pacific Ave. became a major topic during Shabazz's appearance on Off The Press with Scott Cronick on WOND, with Cronick arguing that government intervention may be necessary to finally get the property redeveloped.

“I think we've almost reached a boiling point with that particular building,” Shabazz said.

The five-story building dates to 1927 and originally served as a Knights of Columbus club and hotel. Atlantic City's historic inventory identifies it as a Spanish Revival-style structure designed by architect Frank A. Berry and lists its current use as vacant.

The building has been empty for years despite repeated redevelopment efforts.

But there has been a significant attempt to change that.

In 2024, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority approved a preliminary determination of project eligibility for a proposed $25.7 million redevelopment of the property. The proposal called for converting the building into 40 workforce-housing units with ground-floor commercial space, potentially including offices or an urgent-care facility.

The applicant, 1400 Pacific Avenue LLC, sought $2 million in CRDA financing toward purchasing the property. At the time, CRDA described the interior as being in “complete disrepair” and largely gutted.

The building has also been marketed for sale. A commercial real estate listing describes the structure as being in shell condition, vacant and partially demolished inside.

During the WOND interview, Cronick argued that CRDA should consider using its eminent-domain authority to acquire the property and ultimately clear the site if redevelopment remains stalled.

Shabazz did not explicitly call for eminent domain himself, but agreed the situation has become increasingly difficult to tolerate.

“I'm not a developer, but I work with developers, and I know developers,” Shabazz said. “I don't think any developer is going to take on the cost of doing anything with that building. No way.”

“It's too large,” he continued. “It's too old. It has too many issues.”

The frustration is heightened by what is happening around it.

Just next door, the new AC Container Park at 1400 Pacific Ave. is nearing completion. The project is expected to contain 22 converted shipping-container spaces for food vendors, retailers and other businesses.

Shabazz said the developer told him 20 of the project's 22 spaces already had commitments and that an October opening was anticipated.

Elsewhere nearby, new townhouses are being developed on Kentucky Avenue, while restaurants and businesses continue operating and expanding along Tennessee and New York avenues.

Shabazz said that makes the deteriorated Pacific Avenue property increasingly conspicuous.

“All around here you see development,” Shabazz said. “You have townhouses on Kentucky Avenue. You have Pat Fasano's projects up the street. You have Hay Day Coffee. You have all the things on the Orange Loop on Tennessee Avenue, New York Avenue.”

“So that is just a hurdle to development, that building.”

Shabazz believes the increasing investment around the property could finally create enough pressure for something to happen.

“Has it been too long? Yes,” Shabazz said. “It should have been gone a lot of yesterdays, not just yesterday.”

“I think that a perfect storm is coming,” he added.

Whether that means another attempt to rehabilitate the nearly century-old building, a sale or some form of government intervention remains unclear.

But after years of stalled plans, Shabazz says the status quo is becoming increasingly difficult to defend.