Online you can find this image of the Fifth Street Public Market and, in back, the Gordon Hotel in Eugene.
Albany city officials have been working with Obie Companies, a Eugene developer, to explore the possibility of building a downtown hotel and related amenities, City Manager Peter Troedsson announced on Monday.
It wasn’t a formal announcement, really. Instead, Troedsson mentioned it in passing at the close of Monday’s city council work session when he suggested the council take a field trip to Eugene to the Fifth Street Public Market and the Gordon Hotel.
The market and the hotel are developments of the Obie Companies. (I haven’t been there, but in images available online the developments look spectacular.)
That the city has been working with Obie on ideas for downtown Albany might have been news to the public but not to the council. In recent executive sessions closed to the public, the council had authorized Seth Sherry, then the city’s economic development manager, to talk with Obie about a downtown project.
Since then, Sherry has left his job with the city and now works for Obie.
It’s not known, at least to me, how far Albany’s talks with Obie have progressed or exactly which city properties, if any, the city is considering for development.
One possibility is the city-owned parking lot on Water Avenue, behind the former J.C. Penney building, between Broadalbin and Ferry Streets.
A sketch prepared by the designers of Albany’s Waterfront Project showed a building on that lot. When I asked Troedsson about that at the beginning of May, he said that whatever details outside the project area the sketch showed were “purely notional.”
But, he added, “As you know, one of the goals of the waterfront since its inception is to attract private investment along that corridor. We fully anticipate that the city will be able to continue to activate and revitalize the downtown core, as has been the goal of ARA for many years.”
As for the field trip to Eugene to look at Obie’s projects, the manager said he would contact council members to work out the details. (hh)
City Manager Peter Troedsson, right, is seen in a screenshot of Monday’s council meeting on YouTube as he proposes a field trip to look at a downtown Eugene development.
Our schools have no money, but by all means, let’s build a boutique hotel……what a joke!!!!
“private investment “
well if you want schools funded vote for it just remember we live in a democracy & living in a democracy comes with rights & responsibilities 1 of those rights is voting 1 of the responsibilities is to accept that the vote does not always go your way
Thank you for this article Hasso and keeping an eye out for us in Albany. Yet another behind closed doors meeting to the public by the city council! And now they want to take away parking space to put up a possible hotel? And one like in Eugene? Seriously, if I wanted to have something like that where I live now in Albany I would live in Eugene. It really would be nice to get the opinions of the actual citizens of Albany on how they feel before the council goes ahead with something and uses our money by putting their opinion ahead of the actual citizens of Albany.
Obie Companies, a stable economic developer and visionary, would be such a bonus for Albany!
They built quite a development in Eugene, including 5th Street Public Market, Inn at the 5th Hotel Gordon Hotel, and the beautiful apartments. I hope this happens!
Obie signs started in Eugene over 70 years ago and has become a significant player in the downtown real estate market. They have significant assets so if Albany can convince them to build a hotel in the downtown, it would be great for the town. However, unlike Cara ROI will govern their decision.
Hering writes: “In recent executive sessions… the council had authorized Seth Sherry, then the city’s economic development manager, to talk with Obie about a downtown project. Since then, Sherry has left his job with the city and now works for Obie.”
Apparently the revolving door phenomenon occurs at the micro-level of Albany in the same manner it does in the macro-level. I. for one, am glad to learn that the revolving door is well-greased and spins freely, even at the Downtown Albany Revitalization level.
Perhaps a “revolving door” Ethics policy is needed.
Y’know, something radical like preventing a city employee from profiting or otherwise trading upon the knowledge they acquired during their tenure as a city employee.
This would be breaking new ground for a secretive Albany government, so we probably shouldn’t expect much in the short term.
A good hotel in downtown would be a good investment for the future. Means income for the city that could then be sent to schools.
So in a secret meeting the council authorizes Seth Sherry to talk with a private company about a downtown project.
Then the private company hires Seth Sherry. Now the city manager wants to take the councilors on a tour that may result in the enrichment of Seth Sherry and his new employer.
And it appears the public, including Hasso, knows nothing about this.
The optics of this situation look horrible and a million questions and concerns come to mind.
When will Albany government learn?
The public’s business should always be conducted in public. Secret meetings are never required. They are always a choice.
What a ham-fisted way to run a city….
If no government monies are used for this development, why are all the liberals against it. What does Seth Sherry going to work for Obie matter to you-does he have secret information that others don’t have? Get a life and hope somebody with real money invests in downtown Albany without Cara giving away the farm like usual.
And again…with this potential build…where will people park?
Downtown parking is horrible when there is ANY event going on!
The “proposed” site is exactly where many of us suggested a two to three level parking garage be built.
No shortage of parking downtown
I’m confused. Hopefully the crusty curmudgeons of this blog can sort out where they stand… is downtown Albany dead (and thus plenty of parking) or alive (and then yes, Virginia you might have to *gasp* park and walk a little bit to your destination)? Which is it grumpsters?
A “Hotel” in downtown Albany? My experience about hotel/motel locations is that they are located where there is a good flow of traffic (i.e. I-5 – you don’t see any west of Waverly Dr.) and some major attraction (the carousel in downtown Albany?
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sows ear!
The hotel in downtown Corvallis seems to be doing just fine.
That makes sense. There are reasons people may want to stay in downtown Corvallis. The University is just a few blocks away and there are actual businesses that want to be in the downtown core, unlike Albany.
Seems our council is “hell bent” to spend as much public tax dollars(planning/CARA) to put lipstick on that downtown PIG as they can. Live with the “historic” value the downtown has as much as possible & let mega Eugene/Portland be themselves. You like what The Peoples Liberal Sanctuary of Corvallis has…MOVE there!
Let us all revisit Independence, Oregon. Their hotel is on the riverfront adjoining a park, and is in their downtown. The landscape and walkways from the hotel into the park flow perfectly. The park also has an amphitheater and play equipment. What a setting!
It would be great if Obie joined in to create a fabulous hotel for Downtown Albany! Not everyone needs the I-5 convenience. Sometimes it is great to enjoy the peace and quiet our Downtown has, as well as shopping, future Monteith concerts, and restaurants. They will come.
We need to put our money into our streets, (ie infrastructure. Stop wasting our tax dollars.
A nice hotel in Albany could be an asset to the city and its supporting businesses. Currently, business visitors to the downtown Albany office where I work stay either in Corvallis or Salem. I’ve had family visitors stay out of town as well when they don’t stay with us. I agree there is a bit of a question regarding what in Albany would bring enough visitors to regularly fill a hotel, but we do have River Rhythms, the Art and Air Festival, and other events at least for summertime.