My bike rides around Albany often take me past the southeast corner of First Avenue and Burkhart Street, where there used to be an oil company tank farm. Now and then I wonder if the property will ever again have some kind of use.
What happens with the former Wells Fargo branch in downtown Albany — government offices, public parking, or private property used for commerce — is so far undecided. But city officials now say the competing proposals or “offers to buy” should and will be discussed in public.
Acting on the complaint of a rival candidate, Albany police last Thursday caused the removal of campaign signs for school board candidate Miriam Cummins outside four businesses. But it was a mistake, and when I checked on Monday afternoon the signs were back.
In case you hadn’t noticed over the years, I enjoy watching railroad operations. And Albany is the place to be in that regard, since the town is crisscrossed with functioning rail lines.
This is supposed to be Distracted Driving Awareness Month, so it pays to be extra careful not to use our hand-held phones while driving, and not just to avoid big fines.
[youtube video=”BfkXY4TyHYQ”] Lately it seems as though the Portland & Western is doing lots of maintenance on the old Oregon Electric track in and near Albany. Anyway that’s the impression I got on a bike ride in spring-like weather Thursday afternoon.
Albany’s Landmarks Advisory Commission needs clarification on this question: When does a garage associated with an historic house qualify as being historic too, so that a demolition permit is required before it can be replaced with a larger one?
