Looking west along Water Avenue on the evening of Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025.
The construction of Albany’s new plaza street is supposed to be complete in November, and it looks like the contractors may reach that goal.
Returning to the waterfront on a bike ride Sunday after a few days away, I saw that only about 25 or 30 feet of Water Avenue near the Lyon Street bridge remain to be covered with reddish pavers. If the weather cooperates, that part of the job should be finished in a day or two.
Something else I noticed is that there will be a fence between the street and the Water Avenue railroad tracks. Lots of fence posts have been placed, and holes have been dug for many more.
The plaza street treatment covers the four westernmost blocks of Water Avenue. It is intended to make that area suitable for special events or market days, when the street will be closed to traffic.
The street’s conversion is part of the $21.5 million Albany Waterfront Project of CARA, the Central Albany Revitalization Area. The other major part was reconstructing Monteith Riverpark.
The city staff has tentatively scheduled Nov. 19 as the day when the city council next meets as the Albany Revitalization Agency, which governs CARA. That may be the last chance for the council to decide to have CARA bear the cost of undergrounding electric wires for the plaza street.
So far, the council has opted to have customers of Pacific Power bear that cost. Pacific Power estimates that for two years, the surcharge on monthly electric bills within the city limits will be $4 per month. (hh)
Fence posts have been placed between Water Avenue and the railroad tracks.
Thank God it’s almost done so even less traffic on a perfectly good roadway. I’m so glad that the city counsel has the power to tax our utility bills to fund their pet projects. Yet another reason to leave oregon. Adios
This city council is out of control!
1. Putting the cost of the underground electrical wires onto the rates payers is absurd. Especially since none of us asked for this.
2. The proposed downtown tax emption is crazy in this economy! Why do we need more businesses downtown? With added businesses (hotels, apartments, restaurants) comes added usage of our already strained public safety system! The tax exemption would only push the cost of adding additional public safety staff onto All of us that currently pay taxes! We don’t need a full, new, busy downtown! What we have is what makes Albany, Albany.
3. The proposed gas tax. Everyone knows this isn’t a good idea.
4. The additional “tax” on our water bill!!
5. The proposed sidewalk theft from the Mennonite Village. Worst idea ever! The city has no right to tack private property for public purpose. Especially when the city will not be able to maintain and/or control the drugs, thefts, homelessness and other garbage that will certainly come from this dumb idea.
6. Our streets are horrible and there’s really no plan to get them fixed!
I’m a multi-generational Albany resident that is appalled as to what our city has become! A lot of our city leadership is not from the Albany area and has destroyed our character and well-being. Why do you think many of the department directors chose to retire outside of the Albany area? 20 years ago, this town was nice, today its almost unrecognizable. Why the change?
I hate to say this but after 100 years of my family living in Albany, I think it’s time to leave.
Hear, hear!!! I hear you, that is, and agree.
“The city has no right to tack private property for public purpose.” Well I do think they have that right, not that I particularly agree with it, but I think they sure do. It’s called “eminent domain”.
Please enlighten me about the Mennonite Village situation, I’ve not heard anything about that and would like to know what it’s about. Thank You.
I agree in that they have the right for eminent domain. But only when its truly needed.
About the Mennonite Village situation. For what I have been able to piece together, the village now owns property from Waverly / Columbus St to the shores of Freeway Lakes. Their plans are to expand their private village in the undeveloped land. Part of this plan is to have a walking path for their residents to enjoy the private property. This issue at hand is that this path would essentially link the city of albany with freeway lakes. The city sees this as a great opportunity to expand their footprint :( Currently, the entire Mennonite Village compound is private property and has been since its inception. The property is kept amazingly clean and there is little crime due to their high standards. With the city taking ownership of the path, it will bring garbage, crime and other issues that currently don’t exist. Plus, since it’s private property, Albany Police do not patrol the grounds which would make it difficult to enforce any negative behavior. The city has many walking paths (Dave Clark, Periwinkle) that are currently a mecca for homelessness, drug and other criminal behavior. Why would this path be any different?
Hasso, is Water Avenue going to be a one way or a two way street? Thank You.
One way east from Washington to Ferry. Two way the rest of the way.
Hasso: Can you explain the “one-way east from Washington to Ferry Street?” That is, can you come up with a reason other than the one I figured out which was it was to discourage seniors from parking in the Monteith Park slots and the “two” handicapped slots–which are the total front parking CARA gave the Sr./Community Center.
Wow… You rely do go down rabbit holes with your “figgured out” reasoning.
What I’ve “figgered out”: NO councilor (even those I have viscerally disagreed with over the years) EVER goes to bed and dreams: “How can I screw the City of Albany.” Period…
You and I and others may not like the decisions council has made over the years. That’s exactly as it should be. There are ample ways to effect change. I listed some of them earlier. But, no one is trying to cause any harm.
“rely” = really
Ray,
Since no one can say a word on this blog about the city without you saying, “Get involved,” and we have heard that from you so many times that I want to throw up, I will avoid any substantive comments and say to you that figured is spelled, figured, not “figgured,” as you spelled it. Thought of an important comment after all: VOTING is being involved.
Also you forgot to tell us why a voter’s opinion (especially a whole lot of voters’ opinions) should not, as you say, be what guides councilors. Get out of your “rabbit hole” and come up with some new excuses!!! Entertain us. Let us envision a dancing bear.
MJD-
Yes – you will continue to hear from me the way to effect change. How many councilors’ opinions have you changed by not getting involved and/or commenting on any blog or social media? I’ll suggest zero-zip-nada. So, by all means, do it your way (whatever that is) if you believe it accomplishes you goals…
MJD –
Yes — I *DO* believe you’re spot-on with comment about VOTING. It happens regularly. Apparently, so far, you haven’t been able to generate enough to sway opinions….
CARA doesn’t really exist anymore, just the ARA. I’m sure it had nothing to do with the fact that citizen CARA members spoke against the waterfront project at the last CARA meeting. Simple, just don’t call another CARA meeting because members were not towing the line.
All throughout the CARA process, votes were taken at all the meetings. It was very common to have disagreement on items. That’s as it should be – and why there are citizen *advisory* groups. However, just as with Council, for any item to move to the ARA, there needed to be majority on CARA to move it forward
Disagree with the process? Fine. Get involved and change the process.
Ray – How do we change the process? There have been MANY things over the years that us citizens have voiced our frustrations and have been told by council to basically shut up!
Examples:
1. The “tax” on our water bill
2. The talk about establishing a gas tax
3. The status of our streets
4. The current talk about establishing incentives for developers to build within downtown and be given tax breaks.
5. The power line issues at Monteith Park
6. The situation over a week ago between Mr Thomson and Mr Roche. I complained (sent a letter to council) and it was NEVER read or included into the council meeting.
Many of us have voiced our frustrations over the years and every time, we are silenced. I’m guessing that it’s due to not aligning with the councils’ beliefs. The only way to solve the current situation is to vote them ALL out!
Your last 2 sentences state it concisely.
You’re not “silenced”, you simply disagree with the decisions they made.
Your “many voices” are all for naught until-if-when you can convince four votes…
Yes, you can change the makeup of council each election. However, you cian never change100% each time. Start witn your 2 councilors. You can’t even vote for the others… And – you will NEVER get all of them to vote your way all of the time…
Gee….judging from the comments, one can imagine a massive population outflow from Albany. That should make traffic more tolerable and a much safer setting for bicyclists.
When the “people” are ignored it is silencing them and taking away their voice. The council is representing the residents of Albany so their opinions and decisions should align with the peoples needs not what the councilors want.
They serve as a link between the local government and the people they represent, ensuring that the needs and concerns of their constituents are heard and addressed.
The city council is accountable to the citizens of the community they represent.
Councilors also champion local issues. They can help by advising or directing you to someone who can help sort out your problem and can sometimes progress the case on your behalf.
Yes, council represents the citizens. Concilors get but a single vote. So, why should your opinion be what guides them – out of the *thousands* of opinions out there? At the end of the day, you have to convince 4 of them (or 3 + the mayor) to agree with you. Absent getting involved, you’re left commenting on blogs and so-called social media…
WELCOME TO THE NEW HASSO & RAY FACEBOOK BLOG…..ASK RAY, HE KNOWS EVERYTHING…..OH MY
Point me to a comment I have made that is NOT factual.