This city-owned parking lot between the Albany bridges is one that might be built on as a result of MUPTE. (The cars were shrouded on Oct. 7 to protect them from a nearby roofing project.)
Three city-owned parking lots along the Albany riverfront might some day hold residential high rises because of a partial tax exemption Mayor Alex Johnson II and three council members enacted on Wednesday.
The exemption is called MUPTE for “multiple unit property tax exemption.” It is intended as an incentive to developers of mixed-use housing projects.
Having MUPTE in place was a condition for Eugene-based Obie Companies to exercise its option to buy three city-owned parking lots on the south side of Water Avenue. Obie now will have 18 months to exercise its option.
First, though, the company and the city will have to negotiate an agreement specifying just what is built on the lots, possibly including a hotel or apartment blocks plus a parking structure.
On Wednesday the council discussed possibly modifying the exemption program before taking a vote. In the end, the council split 3-3, and the mayor broke the tie to adopt the ordinance creating the program as proposed and a resolution outlining how it will work.
Councilman Michael Thomson had proposed removing the downtown district from the program. That’s the only place where it is now intended to be used, and where the Obie-optioned lots are located. Thomson’s motion went nowhere.
Councilwoman Carolyn McLeod attempted to make the program require more public benefits, also to no avail. Two weeks ago she objected to the second reading the MUPTE ordinance at that meeting, which moved the final action to Wednesday (Nov. 5).
City Manager Peter Troedsson said MUPTE is intended to incentivize construction of buildings that otherwise would not get built. The more requirements there are, the less incentive there is.
If you want the whole debate, watch the YouTube video of Wednesday night’s meeting. The program is complicated. For a detailed description, check the council packet here.
One thing worth remembering: Those city lots pay no taxes at all now. Even with a 10-year exemption on anything that’s built on them, they would generate tax revenue on the land as soon as they’re in private hands. (hh)
WE’LL NEED THE TAX REVENUE AFTER SPENDING THE 22 MILLION….IT’LL ONLY TAKE 125 YEARS OF TAX’S TO GET THAT MONEY BACK…I KNOW OFF SUBJECT AGAIN….OH MY..
They’ll just make the tax exempt money back by adding more “fees” to the citizens for everything they can think of. We need to vote in some trustworthy individuals that have the PEOPLE’S best interest in mind instead of their own “special” interests.
So If I understand this correctly, Highrise living could come to Albany’s waterfront. Possibly within a few years the waterfront could look like Portland?
Remember the “battles” in Corvallis? Would anyone want to go back to what it looked like/was before?
That old saying, “The only two things certain in life are death and taxes” needs an asterisk by the word, taxes, with the notation, “except for the rich.” No one, not even the youngest among us, knows that they will be alive in 10 years. In the meantime, we will have apartments and a hotel (who in hades wants to stay in a hotel in Albany?) where people can look out the windows and watch the homeless people shuffle by!!
Down with every member of the Council. Let’s vote them all out of office. (Don’t bother to blast me with a “hogwash” comment…your favorite word…Ray K. I won’t read what you write or reply to it.)
No need to do so since you do well on your own… How about “balderdash?” It too fits… :-)
Kudos! High Five’s! And Congratulations to all involved who helped finally make this happen!!
Now, we wait see how it plays out. It will take time, but Albany will be better off long-term for having this additional tool available…
Watched the council meeting on YouTube this morning, and just to clear things up; Thomson’s motion was seconded by Newton. MacLeod voted right along with ’em, but the mayor broke the tie and shut it down. Hasso, you gotta pay a little closer attention, my friend. These details make all the difference.
Please cover the steps — what happens next with the 18 month agreement and so forth.
Wouldn’t bike, walking trails, along with parks, on both sides of the river better serve the community?
How does MUPTE take anything away from what you (and I) want?
I think it’s funny they want to put high rise living in downtown Albany when they can’t even bring in more business in downtown area.You need bigger stores and restaurants there is nothing for people to see in Albany that they can not get in Salem .And I am one who like the view of the river that I have not been able to see as of all the golden brick road construction and the park in the last three years.Let us enjoy what we have now and start working on bringing big business back to town .Most likely we could get better return tax wise from them instead of a 10 year exemption .Just a thought !
It seems that a big investment in the waterfront area might be exactly what gets businesses to come back to downtown. More foot traffic will keep businesses alive. Downtown Albany often like a ghost town.
Hey Hasso – Not to be off subject but is there any truth to the city trying to force the Mennonite Village to put a then foot public pathway right through the middle of their community?
Coming soon… Lepman Towers… another tax payer funded project brought to you by our corrupt city.
This comment is based on what? Coming soon? Where did you get that?