Benches have been added to this block of Water Avenue, Albany’s new plaza street.
Bit by bit, Albany’s new plaza street is taking its final shape as the city’s contractor is getting close to winding up three years of construction on the Albany Waterfront Project.
On a bike ride along my usual riverfront route on Thursday afternoon, I saw that four benches had been added. The benches are on the south side of Water Avenue opposite the blank exterior wall of the Albany Eagles lodge, which has been closed since last year.
(I keep expecting the Eagles property to be sold, but as of Thursday the county assessor still showed the Albany Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles as the owner.)
On the plaza street, it looks like the planting of trees is next.
I saw a batch of young trees being stored alongside the Dave Clark Park in the yard where K&E Excavating, the main waterfront contractor, has been keeping its construction materials and gear.
Construction on the Waterfront Project started in 2023 with the renovation of Monteith Riverpark.
The last piece in the overall project is the plaza street, consisting of four blocks of Water Avenue from Washington Street to the bridges. And that is supposed to be complete this month. (hh)
Waiting to be planted, young trees were lying Thursday in the yard where Waterfront Project contractor K&E Excavating stores material and equipment.
You can sit here and enjoy the view of the north wall of the closed Albany Eagles lodge.
They may as well have a mattress installed. The only people that will use them are going to be homeless.
Thank-You HH. I am still new to Albany and I find your coments on your observations wonderful and hope to continue seeing your commentary. Again i say, Thank-You. Stan
Thanks HH
Why are the benches turned the wrong way??? They need to be turned around.
You are absolutely right. Hate it when they face them this way. Who wants to stare at a building? Or a concrete wall for that matter. The word stupid does come to mind.
I’ll suggest those blank walls or buildings will change over time.
Iâll bet with more graffiti. Thatâs okay with the council. Theyâll just start hitting us up with a maintenance âfeeâ.
If ever there was a wall in need of a mural…
THE ALBANY CAMPERS WILL LOVE THIS AREA & THAT NORTH WALL IS AN EYE CATCHER…OH MY
I think that bench was installed backward … :/
Gawd! What next? I don’t know which is worse…listening to Trump’s dismantling of the country, or reading about Albany’s stupid, stupid waterfront project!!! I hope the homeless get some use out of those benches. Lovely view of the wall of the old Eagles Building!!! Again, Gawd!!!!
For all the “Nattering Nabobs of Negativism,” there’s a simple solution: don’t use any of the improvements. Leave them to alll the folks who already do and will continue to do so…
Oh, Pshaw, Kopczynski! Hope you eat your lunch every day on the bench facing the Eagles building wall! You are excellent at calling people names and never giving concrete reasons why, for instance, the bench facing the wall is a good idea in your not-so-humble opinion.
The problem with you Ray, is that you canât answer the question as it would seem the benches should face the street rather than the graffiti walls.
LOL with pleasure! There are other things to do (including in other cities) and I dont feel the need to sit and stare at a graffiti-covered concrete wall! Not much down on that street anyway. But by all means, enjoy your view LOL!
Hopefully the Arts Commission takes advantage of the opportunity to sponsor an artist to do a beautiful mural on that wall. Maybe something related to the Art and Air Festival and put beautiful hot air balloons over the river? Great place for it!