An eclectic building in the heart of New Monterey that once housed the Paper Wing Theatre (moved to Cannery Row) and the Cat’s Meow vintage clothing store (moved to Santa Cruz), is now under a major remodel to become a three-story mixed-use building with retail on the ground level and five condominium units on top, complete with a rooftop retreat for residents with views of Monterey Bay.
“Hideaway on Hoffman,” as the development has been dubbed by developer Bright Sky Development in partnership with Anna Russell, has started the renovations at 601-605 Lighthouse Avenue, at the corner of Lighthouse and Hoffman Avenue. It’s scheduled to be completed by 2025, according to a press release.
The building was constructed in 1966 as a two-story retail/office space. It’s been empty for almost four years since both Paper Wing and Cat’s Meow moved out during the early months of the pandemic in 2020. It’s now looking more like a shell of the building, as Hare Construction begins the process of adding approximately 1,000 square feet of retail to the first floor and five split-level condos on top, each with panoramic views of the city and/or the bay.
The project will include on-site parking and all new plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems. It will also be retrofitted for seismic safety. The building will evolve into a three-level structure within essentially the same footprint and height, the press release states.
In a statement, Ethan Hare, owner of Hare Construction and the prime general contractor, said "We are proud to bring this project forward. Having as a child I passed this building weekly on my way to church, it's especially rewarding to honor its historicity, introduce much-needed housing to our community, and still provide space for retail.”