Shopping carts abandoned on the sidewalk marked the lot at 370 S.E. Burkhart when I parked the bike on the curb on Sept. 1, 2025.
For a decade now, the vacant lot at 370 Burkhart St. S.E. in Albany has made an appearance on this website just about once a year. Maybe one of these years something will actually happen there.
The lot holds a concrete reservoir that once was part of the Albany water system but was decommissioned many years ago. The city of Albany acquired the massive tank and the lot when it bought the water system from Pacific Power & Light in 1985.
The city’s initial attempts to get rid of this piece of surplus property foundered on the cost of demolishing the concrete tank, which the city at one time estimated at $400,000.
In April 2021, though, the council voted to sell the property for $4,000 to two investors who said they considered building attached housing on the lot, perhaps even incorporating the tank in their plans.
The buyers still own the property, but no building has taken place. The city’s online records show no applications or permits pending for the site.
One reason for selling the surplus lot was to get it back on the tax rolls.
The sale took place in September 2021. Since then the owners have paid three years of property taxes totaling $2,622. (hh)
Despite vandalism you can still make out the address sign on the front fence.
THEY NEED CARA FREE MONEY. LIKE WATER STREET BRICK PAVERS..OH MY