City of Albany begins revitalization of neglected neighborhoods
Posted at: 06/27/2012 12:46 PM
By: Bill Lambdin
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 Photo: Mark Soriano/WNYT |
ALBANY - In an effort to fight blight, a number of abandoned buildings in Albany were demolished Wednesday morning.
Demolish was going being done on Delaware Street in Albany’s south end. In 18 months, Albany officials are promising a lively street scene, complete with kids playing and parents enjoying the revitalized area.
Six run-down sheds were demolished Wednesday morning because city officials had pronounced them dangerous to the surrounding areas.
The cleared lots that have been opened up in recent years will be used for Habitat for Humanity Housing. The plan is to put in six duplexes, each with a three-bedroom unit valued at $128,000 each.
The units will be sold to families with a limited income at Habitat’s cost, $95,000 each. The fixed rate, no interest mortgage, basically equals or is less then the families are paying in rent. It’s a way of helping people achieve the dream of home ownership while fixing neighborhoods that have been abandoned or that had rundown housing.
The mechanics of the project involved a neighborhood revitalization bond to cover the city’s cost of demolition. That was approved fairly recently by the Albany Common Council. City officials plan on continuing the revitalization; there are other neighborhoods that need the support.
