The house at 506 Ferry St. on Monday afternoon, Feb. 17, 2025.
A plan to turn a historic house in downtown Albany into an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center is off, at least for now.
On Jan. 9, the Albany Hearings Board approved a conditional use permit to allow the treatment center to be established in the historic “Sternberg House” at 506 Ferry St. S.W.
The decision was appealed by Camron Settlemier, a resident of the Monteith Historic District and a vocal advocate for preserving the district’s longtime residential character. He asked that the case be decided by the Albany City Council.
“The applicants decided to withdraw their approval; therefore, the appeal will not move forward,” David Martineau, the planning manager in the Albany Department of Community Development, told me Monday. He explained:
“No appeal hearing date was set to allow us time to meet with Varitone Architecture (the applicant’s representative) to discuss points raised in Mr Settlemier’s appeal. The biggest hurdle is that the proposed alcohol treatment center was outpatient rather than being a group residence where clients stay overnight like the Oxford houses around town. Without overnight stays, the use would be treated as a commercial use. A conversion of a residential use to a non-residential use is not permitted in the Hackleman-Monteith zone.”
In his appeal, Settlemier raised several objections, among them that approval of the permit went against provisions in the city’s development code. He also complained that speakers at the Jan. 9 public hearing were limited to two minutes each.
“A two-minute time limit is not specified anywhere in the development code, and people must be given the opportunity to address not just some but all the relevant criteria to have a fair hearing,” Settlemier wrote.
The Sternberg House, at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Ferry Street and kitty-corner from the Linn County Courthouse, was built in 1868, according to Albany’s inventory of historic buildings. It was remodeled in the 1920s, according to county tax records.
Angela Kelly and Sarah Soric, owners of Recovery First LLC, an addiction rehabilitation center, bought the house last May for $551,000.
According to their application, they wanted to use the place as an outpatient center with one-on-one treatment and group therapy. Their application said the maximum number of people in the house at any time would be 30.
A new land use process will start if the owners submit another application to use the house as anything other than a home. (hh)
Speakers being limited to two minutes is an example of overbearing government action against the tax paying citizens. That does not treat the public with respect. Interesting
that staff wants the respect of the public.
Hi Hasso: This doesn’t have anything to do with historic restoration, but I’m not sure how else to post on your column — glowing compliments, good photo, and some had-to-be-there humor: https://highway58herald.org/86079-2/
The city is not through milking all the funding for the non profits to help drag out the homeless crisis. Until the funding has dried up they don’t want the homeless crisis stopped at the root causes. The citizens of Albany need to stop supporting them. Positive business growth like this one would be driven by results due to being paid by insurance. They will actually pay taxes to support Albany and not drain our tax payer’s dollars to do nothing. The city will also continue to build middle housing regardless of how it burdens the citizens that live here while disputable laws and funding allow it if people keep supporting them too. There are no higher paying jobs to support this
growth and the layout of Albany is restrictive to creating a larger city. Over building areas and neglecting infrastructure causes cities to fail and people leave. The cities bad decisions have left us with a very weak foundation in which to build upon. Does everyone really think Albany will thrive with a city full of non profits, low paying and toxic chemical jobs.
“Historic preservation” is just a sentimental, politically correct front used to segregate neighborhoods and stonewall development or services which don’t raise home values. It’s inherently anti-community.
Which Albany neighborhood has the right “character” for this?
Most commenters here will say “…anyplace but my backyard…” of course.
I have two transitional homes within eyesight of my front yard. Within a 10-minute walk is a major homeless services provider AND a massive new apartment complex where there used to be peace, quiet, and trails.
It is unfortunate that enormous commercial and “livability” investments have been made in an area flanked by the most protected and resistant residential areas. It should be concentrated in areas which have ACTUALLY had the most density increases and ACTUALLY host all populations in their backyard.
If there is data contradicting my perception, I’m happy to consider it.
Sonamata, the city council and manager try to keep the people in need rounded up in the areas they do not deem of any value regardless of the lack of results or damage to the surrounding businesses. Under the overpass is the city’s closet or rug to compile people to stash and ignore them. Managing people is not helping them. This facility is rewarded for actually helping people by giving them the skills to be successful and help them acclimate to a positive lifestyle. This location is full of positive activity and people cannot change if the are always keep in a dysfunctional environment. I was homeless a few times in my youth and if I had stayed trapped in the non profit systems in place I never would have been successful. Nothing the nonprofits are offering will help anyone get out of the negative cycle our society supports them to live in.
In 100% agreement chris. Thanks for sharing a personal story in an anonymous place. I can corroborate your nonprofit experience.
Ray, no one should be hidden in anyone’s back yard. People should be accepted back into the fold and not hidden away like pariahs.