The sign calls attention to a proposal to increase the allowed housing density on this vacant site at 2350 Marion St. S.E.
Owners of about 6 acres of vacant land on the west side of Southeast Marion Street in Albany are asking for a zone change as they prepare to build attached housing there.
Public hearings on the zone change are scheduled before the Albany Planning Commission on May 2 and before the city council on May 25. (A notice attached to the “public hearing” sign on the property had the wrong date for the council hearing.)
A real estate group in Corvallis bought part of the 6.3-acre site from the Albany school district last fall for $900,000. To the west of the property, the school district is building a bus garage and shop.
The current zone is RM or medium-density residential. Paul Spies of the Spies Real Estate Group is asking for a change to RMA, which does not allow detached single-family houses and makes it easier to develop housing in clusters.
Last year, the group told Albany schools its intent was to build 160 units of “desperately needed housing” on the parcel it bought from the district together with the adjacent 4.8 acres it already owned.
In their submissions for the zone change, the applicants say the RMA designation allows 35 dwelling units per acre or 220 units total. But because of streets and various development standards, not that many could be built.
This project, when it happens, continues the trend of multi-family or apartment construction in Albany, fueled by an apparent demand for more and more housing.
The city issued building permits for 143 apartments in 2021, followed by 120 more during the first two months of this year.
Recently, the city received a planning application for a site plan at 1755 Geary St., south of Queen between Geary and the Periwinkle Bikepath, for a 107-unit multi-family apartment complex.
So it appears the apartment trend will continue. (hh)
The map outlines the two parcels involved with the proposed zone change west if Marion.
Just because an area is green, doesn’t mean it needs to be built on.
Most have moved to Albany to escape the “concrete jungle” to enjoy the open green.
“Just because an area is green, doesn’t mean it needs to be built on.”
That implies: “I’ve got MY piece of the green – the heck with anyone else who wants to be here.”
If the property is within the UGB, you can bet, that at some point down the road, it will get developed.
And when will enough be enough Ray? When the only green areas are cemeteries? Or would you propose building on those, if there’s money in it?
Mark…Ray’s response is code for… “I already have my piece of the green”… ;-)
True. And Albany can support a lot more development within the UGB
Mark,
The additional housing would not be needed if people didn’t move here to escape the undesirable area they helped create.
Seems we are building just apartments these days. Finding smaller starter homes is not a possibility in Albany much anymore.
Walk down Marion between Queen and 34th to see how single-family homes have become 5-6 family homes. All ya have to do is count the number of cars parked there…and most times parked on what used to be a lawn. It’s becoming that way…just to be able to have a roof over your heads these days!! :-(
More apartments and they are not attractive ones. Mostly 2 story, boxey cookie-cutter buildings. Albany is slowly losing the reason people have wanted to move here.