By MARK ADAM
Contributing Writer
The Park South Urban Renewal Plan moved one step closer to adding a new parking garage and apartments near Albany Medical Center Thursday evening. The Albany Planning Board unanimously approved three amendments and recommended the plan go to the Common Council, pending further review of the height of the garage.
The $110 million project includes a six-story parking garage with 855 spaces and apartment buildings with 268 rental units bounded by New Scotland Avenue, Myrtle Avenue, Robin Street and Dana Avenue.
The amendments to the plan were presented to the five-member planning board by Richard Rosen, vice president of Columbia Development, on behalf of the co-applicants Albany Medical Center and Tri City Rentals. The amendments included adding a sixth floor to the parking garage, increasing the number of apartment units from 256 to 268 and expanding the overall footprint of the building to include 405 Myrtle Ave.
After Rosen’s presentation, six members of the community addressed the planning board, many of whom expressed concerns about the parking garage’s appearance and impact on neighbors.
“To me, it’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen,” said Virginia Hammer, president of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association.
Other residents voiced their opinions about the expansion of the parking garage.
“The Park South Urban Renewal Plan called for a garage there, so I’m not saying completely get rid of the garage, but I think that if there’s a need for this much parking, it needs to be more distributed throughout the area,” said Leah Golby, council member for the 10th ward.
One person who advocated for the plan was Richard Conti, council member for the sixth ward, which falls in the Urban Park South area.
“We are anxious to move forward and not have to restart this project,” he said.
After the meeting, a resident who lives on Lawnridge Avenue, and who addressed the planning board, was unhappy with the decision.
“I find it disappointing,” Dennis Gaffney said. “I don’t think the size of this garage will be good for the neighborhood. It’s an eyesore and it’s going to add a lot of unnecessary traffic.”
If the plan is approved by the Common Council, it will go back to the Planning Board for a discussion about site details.
“It was a good result for the project,” Rosen said. “It’s a result that’s going to require more effort and work on our behalf as far as some of the design issues that were brought up today by both the board and the public. But this is typical in a process like this.”
