If you lived in Apartment 316, this would be your view from the balcony. In the far background, Bowman Park.
Construction continues at The Banks, the new apartment complex on the Willamette River in Albany. But most of it is finished, and on Friday they held a grand opening.
This was a controversial project in the east Willamette neighborhood when the planning for it began five or six years ago, and I’ve reported on it several times in the period since.
Now the development has turned an abandoned industrial site — and then for years a trash-filled wasteland — into a nicely landscaped community for what the brochure calls “luxury riverfront living.”
Patrick Morley, one of the Salem principals in the development, told me people have moved into about 60 of what will be 120 units. Finishing work continues inside three of the eight apartment buildings.
I talked to a young family who have of lived in a ground-floor unit since October. One of the parents works in Salem, and they are pleased with their new home.
From The Banks website, you can find out details about the project, such as how much it costs to live there.
I wandered around the place and shot a few photos. Here’s a sampling:
A crowd including Mayor Alex Johnson II (with the lei) mingled in the community room.
An electric-vehicle charging station in The Banks’ parking lot was in use.
Checking out the mirrored workout center.
The complex includes this community room for gatherings of all kinds.
Developer Patrick Morley, left, talked to people inspecting an upstairs unit.
From Linn Avenue, stairs lead down into the complex.
A path 10 feet wide runs past the complex along the river from Bowman Park toward Eads Park.
Love it. Would like to live there if I could afford it.
Just wondering what is planned for the occacional flooding in that area. I grew up in that area and I know from experience how bad the flooding can get.
Great to see some river front living options in Albany. Those look great.
Cue the predictable bitching and moaning about unaffordable housing.
And don’t look to Salem for relief. The 2019 rent control law applies only to multi-unit buildings constructed more than 15 years ago where no government subsidies are involved.
Now, if the city council indulges their natural authoritarian desire and imposes a city rent control ordinance, things might get weird.
These are beautiful, market-rate rental units that cater to upper crust folks like city employees and PERs recipients. They ain’t for Joe & Jane Sixpack.
I’m not fulfilling your prediction of bitching and moaning. (You seem to have a burr under your saddle recently, though!) I do agree you are right….these beautiful, on-the-river rental units are not for Jane or Joe Six-pack of Ensure!!! That covers me.
Given the glowing report Hering has given this new installation the question that needs asking is: what is the relationship between “The Banks” and Hasso Hering? I know of several entities who’d love the kind of Public Relations Hering offers in this screed.
Hasso is now doing PR work! You’re the real deal Hartman. Why don’t you tell us why you read Hasso’s blog. I read it because his editorials in the DH were pithy and interesting as his blog. Plus it gives him a reason to ride his beloved bike and get some exercise.
I read it because I enjoy Hasso’s efforts and he does cast a certain slanted light on the local scene. And I am sorry, but your memory is playing tricks on you. Many of Hasso’s “pithy” opinions in the Old Democrat Herald were simply off-the-cuff because his Layout Guy at the paper told him the paper needed another 300-word screed to fill the page properly. Unlike the pope, Hasso is not blessed with infallibility, so you’ll pardon me if I don’t take his every word as gospel.
Suspicious minds would go there; the darkened smoke filled back room where, through tough negotiations, HH squeezes out every penny he can for a positive mention of the new apartments in his reporting here. But, since most of your comments here tend towards exaggeration and parody it is easy not to take them seriously. Most are derogatory and some border on defamation. Few are entertaining.
No, no, no…you’re wrong. I am just like your favorite TV station, FOX News. It’s all just 1st Amendment protected opinion, not different in any way than what Mr. Hering publishes daily. Am I being victimized by the Albany Right Wing Cancel Culture? Only time will tell.
We’re not victimizing, we just don’t like your constant mocking of everything. Being an angry old man doesn’t mean everyone wants to hear what you say. Feel free to go to another blog.
Hasso: Look how thick the trees are on the north side of the river compared to how thinly spaced they are on the “Banks” side? I wonder if the City of Albany (CARA) cut trees off the bank for their “riverfront” project down as far as “The Banks”?
No, the riverfront project has nothing to do with this area.
Interesting observation. Wink
Yes, Wink, wink!