Looking east along First Avenue in front of a duplex being built at 620 First S.E. on Sept. 11, 2023.
There’s a bit of a housing boom happening on long-vacant land in the 600 block of Albany’s East First Avenue, a major traffic route.
Last month the City of Albany building division approved a permit for construction of a duplex on a vacant lot at 620 First Ave. S.E. On a bike ride Monday, I couldn’t help but notice that construction is well under way, and I took these photos.
According to the permit, the place totals 2,708 square feet with six bedrooms and six bathrooms, presumably three of each per dwelling.
For what it’s worth, for this project Albany collected just under $26,000 in building fees and systems development charges.
The owner of the lot and applicant for the permit is Sly Toran, a drywall contractor in Gervais, who recently finished a duplex elsewhere in Albany, on Southeast Seventh Avenue.
In June, Toran won city planning approval of a site plan for construction of a six-unit apartment building, also on vacant land on First, between the new duplex and Thurston Street to the east.
What’s noteworthy about infill projects like these is that they add to available housing on existing lots and don’t require new streets and utility systems to be built. And they don’t take take up open space or farmland out in the countryside.
There’s no sign yet of the apartment construction or when it might start. I left a phone message for the owner asking about his plans. I’ll add that information if I hear back. (hh)
Another view of the duplex under construction on Southeast First Avenue.
“What’s noteworthy about infill projects like these is that they add to available housing on existing lots and don’t require new streets and utility systems to be built. And they don’t take take up open space or farmland out in the countryside.”
BINGO!
But all the thousand of other houses built only got their neighborhood roads and the rest of us have to drive on crowded pot holed tiny roads, I call this BAD PLANNING and shame in our city leaders
And your plausible & palatable solution would be?? Stay tuned. Multiple meetings already being planned to try and address in some fashion…
Obviously in hindsight, we’ve elected the wrong people to the mayor/City Council positions. That’s what lead to this intolerable situation. You want Promenades and back in parking etc. to only serve the Downtown Good Old Boys Club.
Restaurants & gift shops fall on their face during hard times.
So why did Albany require just under $26,000 in building fees and systems development charges. No equity there.
Search city web site for “SDCs.” 1st link gives you all the information about the “why” of them.
I have noticed this project and, unlike many, seems to be moving quickly. From the appearance of the placing of studs the rooms are going to be very small but livable.
Kudos to the builder for using a lot that has been vacant for years. I will continue to watch the progress with interest.
totally agree! it is wonderful to see new (and hopefully affordable) dwellings going up in areas that were only vacant, eyesore lots, whose only use was putting other neighbors in peril from dangerous and illegal activity! i see we have plenty of these unused, dilapidated areas that could be mightily improved at lower cost, since a lot of the infrastructure is already there!