For Albany’s downtown urban renewal program known as CARA, the focus now is on launching and completing a redevelopment of the riverfront along Water Avenue, finishing some remaining projects, and then going out of business, possibly by 2025.
CARA still coy about Fargo offers, but …
Written May 16th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
Albany’s urban renewal agency continues to be shy about naming the parties that offered to acquire the former Wells Fargo branch in the heart of downtown. But it plans to decide on selling the building to one of them the next time the CARA advisory board meets, which is June 19.
City wants more proposals on vacant bank
Written April 17th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
Albany city officials have received a couple of competing proposals for what to do with the former Wells Fargo Bank downtown, and they are looking for more.
Revival of the east side: Another step
Written April 13th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
The Schultz Building at 212 First Ave. S.E. has seen various uses since being built in 1910. Now it may become a restaurant, according to a grant request being considered by the Albany urban renewal district.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany revival, CARA, Homegrown Oregon Foods, Schultz Building, Shawna Turkins, urban renewal
Tags: Albany revival, CARA, Homegrown Oregon Foods, Schultz Building, Shawna Turkins, urban renewal
EV charging stations downtown?
Written February 18th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
Should the Central Albany Revitalization Area provide charging stations for electric cars downtown? The CARA advisory board will get a chance to talk about that idea when it meets on Wednesday afternoon.
Albany launches downtown parking study
Written February 10th, 2019 by Hasso Hering
The Albany City Council thinks the city would benefit from a downtown parking study, and it has commissioned one at a contracted cost of no more than $42,803.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: Albany downtown, ARA, ARA parking study, CARA, parking study, Rick Williams Consulting
Tags: Albany downtown, ARA, ARA parking study, CARA, parking study, Rick Williams Consulting
CARA buys former Wells Fargo branch
Written February 1st, 2019 by Hasso Hering
Last October, the Albany City Council authorized the city staff to negotiate to buy the former Wells Fargo Bank branch at First Avenue and Broadalbin Street. On Friday, the city closed on the purchase for $1.5 million.
‘Cheese grater’? That project’s off
Written January 3rd, 2019 by Hasso Hering
The fabled “cheese grater” on Albany’s First Avenue — a sign of progress in the 1960s and now considered an architectural atrocity — is staying up there, at least for now.
Posted in: Commentary, News
Tags: 415 W. First Avenue, CARA, cheese grater, downtown Albany, Mercy House
Tags: 415 W. First Avenue, CARA, cheese grater, downtown Albany, Mercy House
About our alleys: More than a shortcut?
Written December 24th, 2018 by Hasso Hering
A couple of days before Christmas I took a shortcut through a downtown alley. This made me think of one of the forgotten goals of the Central Albany Revitalization Area.
CARA has pick of 3 offers to buy ex-bank
Albany’s urban renewal board next week will be asked to choose one of three widely different offers to buy and redevelop the former Wells Fargo bank at Broadalbin Street and First Avenue downtown.
Tags: CARA, Flinn Block, Linn County Clerk, Sybaris, Wells Fargo Building