The front of the Wood Apartments on Third Avenue looked like this on Nov. 27, 2023.
At 113 years of age, the two-story structure housing the Wood Apartments in the 200 block of Southeast Third Avenue may be among Albany’s oldest apartment buildings. Now the facade is getting structural repairs.
This is one of the residential properties of Scott Lepman. On Nov. 27, the Albany Community Development Department approved Lepman’s application of “historic review of exterior alterations.”
The application was to repair and strengthen the front porch and the balcony above it on the second floor, while maintaining the character and appearance of these architectural elements.
The building, dating from 1910 and later the Albany headquarters of several labor unions, has been the subject of stories on this site many times, most recently in June 2020 when the city’s Landmarks Commission approved enlarging some windows so that four apartments could be added in the basement.
At the time the address was 222 Third Ave. S.E. Now the street number is 218. Number 222 has been assigned to one of eight new narrow lots next door, where the Lepman company won planning commission approval in 2021 for construction of eight three-story townhouses.
Prompted by the city’s approval of the apartment house repairs, I stopped by the address on a bike ride this week. That’s when I noticed that construction of the townhouse project has begun. Foundations have been poured on four of the eight lots.
Among other Lepman projects now in the works are three big ones downtown: remodeling the former post office and city hall (the Federal Building) for office space; remodeling the old St. Francis Hotel for commercial and residential use, and building a large apartment block on the former site of Wells Fargo Bank.
It will take years to complete them all. But expect many more residents to be living downtown when these projects are done. (hh)
Foundations have been poured for four townhouses next to the Wood Apartments.
I hate seeing so many apartments coming in downtown I grew up here and hate change . I hate to see Albany in 2O years..
Get over your 2O! I don’t even know! Is that years or a mistype?!?
This will be great for downtown in 15 to 20 years.
YES! Way to go Scott Lepman! Almost single handedly you are improving the look, and hopefully the safety of dowtown Albany! Thank you!
Bravo to the Lepman team for helping to make Albany better!
This is great! Kudos to the Lepman company. Beautiful restorations.
Somebody needs to.
Why are there people still camping illegally on the Periwinkle Bike Path?
Why won’t the police make contact with them after I call?
When did it become legal to scream and fight in the park at 2 in the morning?
Why doesn’t the bike path have funding for cleaning and maintenance?
If you’ve got time to argue with strangers on the internet, then you can spare a moment to answer a question or two…
I like the idea of living downtown. How convenient to be in walking distance to so many shops and restaurants. A grocery would be nice too. Good for Lepman.
Hasso: Another comment on a grocery store. Wish you would make some inquiries.
Hope the elites who have the money to pay the rent for these places don’t mind crumbling pavement in the streets. Well, it is actually crumbled…past tense. It is past the stage of “crumbling.”
I live in North Albany and there are crumble streets everywhere, probably, partially due to the heavy garbage trucks! Corvallis has crumble streets too. I don’t think you can get away from it. At least there’ll be nice buildings!
I think the answer to the park neighbor is that the city manager doesn’t do his job and sits on his but inside city hall. Also think the mayor and city council needs to deal with the illegal camping on the bike path.