These are the front four townhouses being built in the 200 block of Third Avenue S.E .Four more are in the back.
Two buildings containing eight three-story townhouses are under construction in the 200 block of Southeast Third Avenue, the latest project by the Lepman organization to increase housing in and near Albany’s downtown.
The units are in back-to-back buildings facing north and south. They occupy what had been a vacant lot just east of the former Labor Temple at 222 S.E. Third, now the Wood Apartments, which Scott and Spencer Lepman expanded with additional units about five years ago.
The townhome lot was subdivided, and each home has its own tax lot. The dwellings have addresses from 220 to 236 Third Ave. S.E.
According to its building permit, “Townhome C” at 228 S.E. Third has 1,497 square feet, including 1,170 square feet of living space. The building permit shows two bedrooms and three bathrooms.
From the outside, all eight units look about the same size. Each has a garage.
The building permit lists a valuation for Townhome C of just under $200,000. City and state fees for the unit totaled about $15,000. The total included roughly $9,000 in street and sewer system development charges plus $1,497 for the Albany schools’ construction excise tax.
In public remarks over the years, Scott Lepman has often said his goal was to increase housing in central Albany. More people living there would contribute to the vitality of downtown.
With the help of some CARA urban renewal assistance toward a fraction of each project’s cost, the Lepmans have completed several housing projects in the old parts of Albany. Twenty years ago, they started by converting an old seed warehouse on Water Avenue into the 16-apartment Jefferson Lofts.
Their other projects since then included the Fortmiller aprtment building on Southwest Third and the Spruce Apartments, also known as the Opera House, on Southeast First.
Currently they are working to turn the former St. Francis Hotel and the Old City Hall or Federal Building into apartments as well.
In 2023, the Albany Revitalization Agency agreed to sell the former Wells Fargo property on First Avenue to Scott Lepman, who had plans for a four-story building with apartments and covered parking. The sale was to close after the conclusion of a development agreement. No such agreement has yet been approved, and the ARA still owns the lot. (hh)
These four units front on an alley and face south, the sunny side of the complex.
Thanks Hasso! Any update on the St. Francis Hotel or Old City Hall? When will they be completed? Just curious.
It sure makes sense to put middle housing in areas served by transit and near retail establishments, rather than in the country over a mile from services.