Signs of exterior remodeling were apparent on Feb. 8 at this former warehouse near the corner of Main Street and Santiam Road.
The corner of Santiam Road and Main Street in Albany continues to undergo a gradual transformation. I can’t help but notice the changes as I pass this corner occasionally on the bike.
This was, of course, the historic site of the former Cumberland Presbyterian Church before the old church building was moved to the corner of Santiam Road and Pine Street in 2021.
Yohn Baldwin, owner of Baldwin General Contracting, bought the church lot from the City of Albany in 2022.
Since then he has converted the former church site into a parking lot and huge stormwater retention swale, a construction job which also entailed rebuilding half of the street frontage on Main.
Now it’s time for the adjacent former warehouse to be turned into something new.
“Yes,” Baldwin told me Monday, “the exterior renovation is in progress. We have almost completed the framing changes in the north and east facing walls and then will be waiting for the windows to arrive before we move forward with the new exterior siding.”
Baldwin is working with Varitone Architecture of Albany on redesigning the interior. The latest plan for the inside: A batting cage business.
A week ago I leaned the bike against one of the new bike racks and took the photo above. I’m looking forward to the day when this old warehouse, across Santiam Road from the Carriage House Plaza strip mall, comes alive with a new use. (hh)
Batting cages? That would be awesome!!!
Baseball was never my game (basketball was) but I think a batting cage is a swell idea.
I hope it all comes together smoothly for them. I am thrilled to hear it is meant to be something the community can enjoy year round. It will be on my list for class trips!
We need more people like Mr. Baldwin who contributes more to this city then the people at City Hall that try to thwart him. We don’t have to fix the road when we owned it, but YOU have to fix it when YOU own it. BTW- it appears there’s 4 or more city owned lots adjacent to the Cumberland church EVENTS CENTER”, an alleged non profit. Wonder who will get those lots for much under market value? Just wait for another intentional fiduciary fiasco of the citizens property
Awesome for a new venue for Albany… thank you Hasso!
Can you also shed light what is happening with the old Shone’s motor building that’s located on Pacific between West Albany High School, and the Albany Police Station?
I have noticed new construction going on, and curious!
What a great way to cater to a small specific group of people instead of the growing number of the homeless. Why not make a place where left handed Aztec shoelace makers can rest their burrows.
That sounds like a good investment.
What’s wrong with trying to create jobs to prevent people from being homeless? It’s a cold, hard fact. If you cater to the homeless, you’ll grow homelessness and have to cater to a lot more. Make Corvallis a more desirable place for them to live.
Between this and the new Cumberland Church Community Center, I just hope the increased traffic doesn’t get too bad. I’ve lived on the street for 12 years and it’s really changed! We now have too many people speeding through at 40+ when the limit is 25 mph. It’s a real problem trying to get in and out of our driveway. PSA: there are now cameras to detect your speed at the corner of Geary and Santiam Rd. Slow down or you’ll get a ticket in the mail.
The planned cameras at Geary and Santiam Road have not yet been installed. The plan is to install them some time later this year,
Thank you Hasso for these informative articles that you publish. I appreciate all these articles. Very good read, and very good information. But, I have a question. I noticed there’s some fencing going up on Waverly on a very large lot, just a short distance from Fred Meyer, that has been vacant for years! Probably decades. I remember two houses that were removed many years ago. Do you have any information as to what’s going on? Or what if anything is being built? Thank you. Just curious.