Looking along SW 53rd Ave. toward Pacific Boulevard. A developer plans to build 108 apartments on the site. Lakeshore Lanes is in the distance. I rode my bike here on Dec. 19.Â
A developer from the Seattle area has submitted plans for a 108-unit apartment complex in Albany, at the southwest corner of Pacific Boulevard and 53rd Avenue.
The city’s Planning Division posted a notice that it had received an application for a site plan review and related actions. The city said it notified property owners within 1,000 feet of the property and invited them to submit any comments by Dec. 30.
The property is zoned mixed-use commercial. Approval of the application is up to the city planning staff.
The applicant is Schneider Homes Inc. of Tukwila, Wash. The company owns three parcels on the southwest corner of 53rd and Pacific, north of the Lakeshore Lanes bowling alley.
Schneider is asking that the three lots be consolidated as one. It also applied for an encroachment into the “riparian corridor” of Oak Creek, which runs along the south side of the property.
The company’s plan calls for constructing seven three-story apartment buildings and a clubhouse/office. One of the buildings would hold one-bedroom apartments and studios. The others would have both one- and two-bedroom apartments.
A map with the application shows 156 parking stalls plus storage space for 31 bikes.
The entrance to the complex, on the south side of 53rd, would be opposite Willetta Street. One of the apartment blocks, Building 6 with 12 units, would be situated next to a cell tower that already sits on the property.
The company evidently contemplated developing the site for a long time. Linn County’s online records show Schneider Homes has owned the biggest of the three lots since 2004 and the rest since 1997.
Schneider Homes already has a name for the complex: “The Loren at Brookside.”
What’s a Loren, you ask? I didn’t know either. Google AI came up with this: “It’s a classic name linked to ancient Roman traditions, reflecting strength and distinction.”
For apartments, that’s quite a name. (hh)
Affordability is a must or do not build.
It’s interesting that only neighbors within 1000 feet of the site were notified. Since 53rd is the only way in and out of an entire neighborhood, I am concerned about the effects on traffic. Traffic already backs up trying to get out onto Pacific at peak times. I can only imagine how over 100 more cars will impact the intersection. What about an emergency, such as flood or fire?
Chris is onto something here…
At this very moment, there is only one reason that the area’s “Killin Friendship Park”, isn’t instead a Mormon Stake Center.
The park land (and long designated as such) was headed straight for LDS destiny with no way to stop it, since religious organizations cannot be denied entry into any given area they seek to occupy. Those living in Brookfield & Spring Meadow at the time will recall the major contention this issue caused, with seemingly no way around it, as the LDS group claimed it was the only place that would work for them, and the only place they ever wanted. It was a hard press, they HAD to have that land and no other.
Of all related considerations, only one stopped the Stake Center: Traffic. The Stake Center would present too much of a traffic load to an area with a single ingress / egress, and prevent timely escape in event of fire or other emergency.
No matter which side one might have taken in regard to the Stake Center (which now and instead stands off of Waverly), it appears the neighborhoods are again facing a potential new traffic burden…and this time immediately adjacent to the traffic lights.
Good luck to you, Spring Meadow & Brookfield; I lived in the latter for years but am now a coastal resident so have no standing in your dilemma. Best Wishes.
More unaffordable housing just what Albany needs The apartments across from Wheeler dealer are almost 1900 and they were supposed to be affordable.
“Encroachment” into the riparian corridor of Oak Creek? I wonder how much “Wet Land” will be disturbed/filled?
I was one who was notified about this project, and to me it seems very vague how, and how much of the riparian area is affected. I would be concerned about any fill towards West Oak Creek.
I have lived through the floods in the 1960’s and have seen this valley with record flooding. We need to keep areas that flood, free from being filled up with dirt, so that water still will have some where to go. Otherwise the water could flood residents homes.
Larry, 1967 and 1968 were when Green Peter Dam, and Foster dam came on line, Flooding was one major reason for their installation.
Lets make it affordable or just forget about it.!
i used to like reading about your adventures, but now it is depressing to see all the plans for new apartments popping up in every open space
It’s not Hasso’s fault at providing the information… he’s trying to make us all aware of future city plans… don’t kill the messenger Ic!
The proposed encroachment into the riparian corridor is inherently foolish and anti-nature…It is bad enough to allow more traffic on Pacific Blvd., that alone warns against this notion.
The area involved would make better use as a natural preserve.
We will see how corrupt the planning department is if this is approved.
We already have too much traffic at this intersection…why not develop the former South Pacific Tires site across immediately to the north of this intersection, this area already has infrastructure that could be repurposed into apartments.
Here we go again…I just don’t know where all these families with kids going to K-12 are going to fit in what have to be already overloaded classrooms.
I’m not against growth, but I sure don’t see new schools being planned for, let alone being built…but I do know you can’t keep cramming kids into already full classrooms.
A recent article in the Albany Democrat Herald was noting that the local school enrollment is down compared to recent years especially in the kindergarten classes.
Loren Schneider was the resident project
Manager when thr Brookfield subdivision was built 26 years ago.
I don’t like growth but if the project is within the law the government should leave the public’s personal feelings out of it and approve the project. And, nothing is affordable. If someone invests their money they can charge what they want. The market will say if it’s fair. They destroyed our economy and country with Covid and it will never return to normal. Work within the rules to stop it if you disagree and accept it if it’s approved. Did you think when you purchased your home down 53rd that growth would stop and leave your neighborhood unaffected?
The area isn’t set up properly for more traffic. There’s one way in, and one way out of The Animal Kingdom. Not sure what the building plans look like, but sure hoping this is a consideration in their plans if approved
This development is going to negatively affect hundreds of area residents that live more than 1000 feet from this site. It also potentially negatively affects the riparian and drainage area for Oak Creek. There are also no shopping, grocery, and/or gas stations nearby; this will result in a significant increase in vehicle traffic on Pacific Blvd (99E). I have lived through the Columbus Day store and the 1964 and 1996 floods. But, I don’t believe that my neighbors or I are ready for this development disaster.
The maddy’s have a long standing history of this area, and the city should listen, if you don’t let them consolidate the 3 parcels, does this development go away, that’s one way to stop it, transportation is huge, hopefully our planners will take this into major consideration, not sure of going to council and complaining will do anything, just make sure you vote next November to stop the madness
These will likely be unaffordable, unless you get a housing voucher or some kind of assistance. This of course just encourages people to work less if you can’t afford to survive, even when you work your ass off. Oregon sure likes to keep people down so the people are reliant on the government for help.
Well, if people rent them, then they are affordable.
As an avid birder and nearby resident it’s a hard no. I’ve catalogued over 50 different bird species in the area. I’ve seen lazuli bunting nesting there, so amazing. I’ve also seen northwestern pond turtles, which are protected.
Many, many plant and animal species call that area home and some are threatened or endangered.
So how come your article doesn’t mention who in the city we can address concerns to regarding this atrocious development?
“atrocious” is in the eye of the beholder. However, from the “Notice of Filing” that I received:
“Please provide any comments you may have on this project to Jennifer Cepello at 541-917-7561 or Jennifer.cepello@albanyoregon.gov. The deadline for submissions of written comments is 5:00 p.m. January 2nd, 2026.
Jennifer.Cepello@albanyoregon.gov
This is the email address given to our neighborhood group as a contact.
it would be reasonable to ask how much growth is enough and when do it stop. does city have a quota of how much housing units can be built during a time period or just as many as will fit anywhere no matter what? usually city have planning document that say growth target. what are they and when to be filled. like, if city trying to reach 2030 growth target how far along are we? flip coin and perhaps city does not know or care and just grow baby grow – seems unreasonable but possible. how come city can’t say what the ultimate big plan is? no trail no jail i guess.
Do you really think they don’t project these things and make them available to the public? Here’s the link you’re looking for:
https://albanyoregon.gov/ecodev/housing-needs-and-economic-opportunities-analyses#housing-needs-analysis
The City doesn’t want affordable housing. They want expensive properties because it produces more tax revenue.
When hasn’t extracting money from the citizens been their main priority?
This is terrible for the Animal Kingdom residents, and houses near by. This was a hard thing to see. It’s such a lovely and safe neighborhood. If this is approved , my heart will break a little. The traffic will be awful , amongst other concerns for the kiddos
The Oak Creek Trail is just west of this area if I’m understanding the location correctly. It’s low there and under water in the winter. I never walk the trail once the rains start. Will these buildings be above that?
We just bought a house in Animal Kingdom to escape the crime and noise of middle Albany, and now that crime and noise seems like it wants to follow us to a nicer neighborhood. Another thing is that we need infrastructure before we start building more housing!! In the concept of 5 min cities, where is my grocery store with in 5 minutes of my home?!
When they fill all the land with apartment buildings, there will no room for houses. That is the way they keep the apartment full. They are taking away the great little city. Home ownership is the key to a great city.
Take a look in South Albany along Ellingson Rd. Huge # of homes that have gone in there – and are continuing to be built. Definitely not apartments…
Ray, you say that like it’s a good thing. Way too many houses being built down there especially without nearby stores, restaurants, etc.
Only a fool would build “affordable housing.” You build housing that people want and are willing to pay for. when they move from places that are not as nice as where they moved into, the places that they left become more affordable. Because a place doesn’t have all the accoutrements doesn’t mean that it is bad, just what some folks can afford. Where I grew up we had linoleum for countertops, nobody I knew had stone of any kind, one bath for the whole family, small bedrooms, It is not somebody else’s problem to provide you with what you want, or like. One of the biggest problems is the mandates as to how and what to put into the structure made by government, the attitude seems to be “if a little regulation is a good thing then a lot of regulation is so much better.” We have done this to ourselves.