Albany Revitalization Agency

Park tree removal comes up before council

Written February 9th, 2023 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 28 responses.

The scheduled felling of dozens of trees at Monteith Riverpark came up during Wednesday’s meeting of the Albany City Council. But nothing about the plans changed.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany Revitalization Agency, Albany urban renewal, ARA, CARA, Monteith Riverfront Park, riverfront project, Waterfront Project, Willamette River

Demolition meeting ends on a sour note

Written November 28th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 17 responses.

Monday’s meeting of the Albany Revitalization Agency was called to award a demolition contract for the former Wells Fargo branch downtown. It ended on a sour note when the chair, Councilwoman Bessie Johnson, formally accused member Dick Olsen of violating the secrecy of an executive session.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany council, Albany Revitalization Agency, ARA, Bessie Johnson, demoliition, Dick Olsen, Laneco Demolition, Wells Fargo branch

Checking on St. Francis as state panel visits

Written October 21st, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 20 responses.

Scott Lepman doesn’t have an estimate of how long it will take to refurbish the old St. Francis Hotel at Ferry Street and First Avenue in downtown Albany. But he, his brother Spencer and their construction crew are about to start.

Posted in: Uncategorized
Tags: Albany downtown, Albany Revitalization Agency, historic restoration, Lepman, Opera House, St. Francis

At the old OER depot, envisioning the future

Written June 13th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 13 responses.

It’s hard to imagine now what the old Oregon Electric Railway depot in Albany will be like once it has been fully restored and Sybaris Bistro has moved in. But Matt Bennett can imagine it very well, and he explained his ideas to me this week.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany Revitalization Agency, CARA, Fifth Avenue, Matt Bennettt, OER depot, Oregon Electric Railway, Sybaris, urban renewal

Edgewater Village: City marks its completion

Written February 17th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 11 responses.

It took a while, but Albany city officials now have formally acknowledged the successful completion in 2020 of Edgewater Village, a development of 58 homes on the Willamette River that overcame tough challenges during the 17 years since it began.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany Revitalization Agency, CARA, Edgewater Village, George and Paula Diamond, urban renewal, Vasili Rozakis, Willamette River

City adds to riverfront consulting contract

Written January 19th, 2022 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 3 responses.

After a debate about transparency and accountability, the seven members of the Albany City Council voted 5-2 Wednesday to add to the consulting contract for the city’s project to redevelop part of the Willamette riverfront.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany Revitalization Agency, Albany riverfront, Albany urban renewal, Willamette River

A vehicle-charging station for downtown

Written July 5th, 2021 by Hasso Hering

Comments: 6 responses.

If you have an electric car, pretty soon you’ll be able to park it in downtown Albany and charge the batteries — unless somebody else has had the same idea and got there first. In which case you’d have to wait your turn.

Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany Revitalization Agency, CARA, charging stations, downtown Albany, electric vehicles, J.C. Penney lot, Pacific Power