Among all the drawings and displays at Monday’s public open house on Albany’s Waterfront Project, which is now under construction, this is the chart I found most informative.
As you can see, the chart summarizes the anticipated schedule for different parts of the $19 million project. Construction in Monteith Riverpark has begun and should be finished at the end of February 2024.
Then, the makeover of parts of Water Avenue will be the only job remaining, and it may take till the end of November next year.
It’s the westernmost three blocks of Water Avenue that will be turned into a “plaza street” with new pavers for pavement, trees and various amenities. Overhead electric wires will be replaced with underground wiring.
One block of Water, between the bridges, will become a “green street” with sidewalks, trees and such.
The rest of Water Avenue, 11 blocks east of the bridges, will be left alone. The project design called for these blocks to be turned into a “green street” too, but this is “currently unfunded” as one of the displays put it.
At Thurston and Montgomery streets, though, the Water Avenue intersections will be redone with pavers instead of asphalt. The railroad crossing at Thurston, the entry to Deluxe Brewing Company, will be improved, and at Montgomery a new rail crossing will be established.
At the open house I learned why the city chose not to rebuild the old riverside boardwalk near the Willamette River gauge and the Ellsworth Street bridge. Replanking the boardwalk would require that it be made to comply with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
As for the Dave Clark Riverfront Path, the project will make no improvements or other changes east of the bridges, which is to say for most of its length. The project budget didn’t stretch that far. When it becomes necessary to fix the cracks in the concrete path, that will be up to the parks department.
The city has called this the “Waterfront Project.” But except for two intersections, the bulk of the riverfront east of the bridges will see no big change. (hh)
Is Deluxe Brewing the main tenant of The Wheelhouse now? I notice you put “plaza street” in quotation marks…..does that mean you are as confused as I am as to what shops or restaurants or businesses will line that plaza. I would guess they are counting on food carts being there and people from along Pacific Blvd., where actual businesses and workers are, will drive to the waterfront for their lunch??
So, it is better for citizens to have an unsafe boardwalk than to bring it up to code? Sounds like CARA is still the CARA it has always been. I’m surprised they revealed the answers to so many questions when the answers were not pretty!!
The entrance to Deluxe Brewing is via Turston Street. The Wheelhouse entrance is on Jackson Street.
Thanks, Hasso, for the additional information. Couldn’t they find funds in the 19 million they are spending for some new, non-slip paint for the existing boardwalk?
What is happening on the south extension of the National Energy Technological Laboratory (Bureau of Mines) land? Just more sewage? More of a plant expansion?
The Queen Avenue contractor is using the site as a staging area.
I ask for the 100th time: Given CARA is using TIF, what is the measure of success for this project?
Will more property tax revenue be generated? How much?
Hasso, why haven’t you asked, of if you have, published an answer to these simple questions?
Ok Anony Mouse, I’m all for calling balls and strikes, not taking any side but looking at the entire picture. This is a good project just from a revenue perspective. At some point this, like the Expo in Ward 3, is going to attract tourists from all over, even those from around 50 miles out. Our River Rhythm concerts are already a major draw, and we haven’t even begun to build on their success. On a side note, a major reason we need to step back and seriously think about selling the Wells Fargo lot. We’ll never be able to get that lot back for $310K in the future, it was bought with pre-inflation dollars and even at that, at a premium, that needs to stay in the asset portfolio of the Albany taxpayer. At some point this project will be a great addition for our hospitality partners that work so hard to drive revenue for the community, a great relationship is inevitable between the assets of Ward 3 and Ward 1. Even at this point, many people in the background are working hard to bring this vision to success, many unsung volunteers at our non-profits.
Granted this doesn’t fit the exact description of TIF, but the courts gave communities some leeway, the question… Is this a case of the rising tide lifting all boats? It is. This entire CARA program was judgment call after judgment call, trying to read the future, but we’re here now at the end and we have a lot to show for it. Now it gets interesting, those with different skill sets can step in and do what they do best, this will help add value to every revenue generating asset downtown. Most owners strive to put resources back into their investment, it makes sense from a tax perspective and increases real market value, as Councilor Olsen pointed out, there’s a lot of pride in ownership.
Lots of words, no numbers.
The CARA Project Evaluation Grid used to have an evaluation criterion called “Tax Increment ROI.”
What is the “Tax Increment ROI” for the waterfront project?
Wow! 19 million dollars! That is a high cost for “pride in ownership.” Can’t forget that figure…especially when it doesn’t even include non-skid paint for the old boardwalk.
The City Council’s Legacy of Contempt!
Thank you, Hasso for your excellent report on the project. The citizens of Albany had the opportunity to be at the open house to ask their questions. The chart is very helpful showing timelines. I expect many people will enjoy the improvements!
With the cost of the project, they should have put it on the ballot for the citizens to decide. The council just blows off any citizen’s comments/complaints at these “open houses” and does whatever they want.
I agree! Very true!