Riverfront idea: A little Pike Place
The one-story building at the southeast corner of Water Avenue and Hill Street doesn't look like much. But it could become an attraction on the Albany riverfront if a contractor carries through with a...
View ArticleHey CARA, restore Thurston Canal
CARA, Albany's downtown urban renewal program, is once again looking for what to do next, so how about finding a way to renew the neighborhood east of Lyon Street, especially around the Thurston Canal?...
View ArticleStreetscape: See the new trees
After a few days away in Southern Oregon, I went downtown Monday and found newly planted trees and street lights that hadn't been there before. You'll no doubt remember that about 130 trees were cut...
View ArticleBright lights blazing on Third
The new lights being installed downtown are certainly bright, even if they illuminate only an empty street as, in this case, three blocks of Third Avenue. Named for the shape of the fixtures, the new...
View ArticleCARA backs pastry chef’s plan
The old Tripp and Tripp Building at the corner of Second Avenue and Ellsworth Street may soon house a bakery, with help from CARA, the downtown urban renewal agency. The CARA advisory board questioned...
View ArticleCARA told of River View project
A former industrial site overlooking the Willamette River east of Bowman Park is destined to become a housing complex. But it may be up to CARA, Albany's urban renewal agency, whether it's a standard...
View Article‘Catenary’ or not: More city lights
What's that lamp doing up there? That's what an acquaintance of mine wondered as he and I emerged from the downtown Carnegie Library on Monday. For once, I happened to know the answer. As part of the...
View ArticleThis bumpy ride has a point
Unless you live there, you probably avoid Albany's Fifth Avenue east of Lyon Street because of of its rough pavement. Camera in hand, I took a ride there Friday to illustrate just how bumpy the surface...
View ArticleEdgewater update: Moving day
Time for an update on Edgewater Village, the new neighborhood on Albany's riverfront that's on my favorite bike route. A moving truck attracted my attention Monday. It caught my eye because it was...
View ArticleA facelift at Baker and First
Another downtown Albany building, this time on the east side of the business district, is about to get an exterior makeover. The owner is getting a bit of help from CARA but is bearing almost the...
View ArticleLost downtown? Help is coming
Getting new "wayfinding" signs for downtown Albany has been a long process now nearing its end. It's taken about six years, and the bills for having 27 signs designed, made and finally installed will...
View ArticleCARA’s interested if Eagles sell
If the Albany Eagles lodge comes up for sale, the city's urban renewal agency would be interested. That's the gist of a discussion among members of the Central Albany Revitalization Area advisory board...
View ArticleEdgewater: City adds a payment
Let’s check in once again on Edgewater Village. There, the Albany urban renewal program has just increased its investment in the project, and construction is under way on the first two houses along the...
View ArticleBig Dig starts with open house
Albany is about to launch its biggest urban renewal project yet, an $8 million reconstruction of downtown streets that starts with a public open house on May 18. As expected, on Wednesday night the...
View ArticleThe Big Dig: When it will start
The digging for Albany’s Big Dig will start on June 12. A week before that, workers for Emery & Sons Construction Group will start getting equipment in place for the $8 million project to...
View ArticleStreet work: Help on where to walk
At first glance this detour looked contradictory, but on second glance I saw the little pedestrian on the yellow sign. Looks like the city and the contractor are making sure walkers can find their way...
View ArticleEdgewater: Things are happening
The dust was flying last week as lots of dirt was being moved in preparation for building more streets on the site of Edgewater Village, the planned complex of 60 houses and townhouses on Albany’s...
View ArticleThe Big Dig: One block’s done
One block down, sort of, and about two dozen more to go. That’s the word from Albany’s $8 million project to upgrade the look and infrastructure of several of its downtown streets. The contractor,...
View ArticleRevised: CARA and the Eagles
Albany’s urban renewal advisory board on Wednesday authorized its staff to talk to the Albany Eagles about possibly buying their lodge building, assuming the property comes up for sale. The windowless...
View ArticleRiverfront idea: A little Pike Place
The one-story building at the southeast corner of Water Avenue and Hill Street doesn’t look like much. But it could become an attraction on the Albany riverfront if a contractor carries through with a...
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