Albany City Commission mulls two development proposals

ALBANY — A prospective downtown hotel development could grow in scope with the potential addition of two buildings to plans that include the former Water Gas & Light building and former Albany Herald building.

The project would bring more than $40 million in private investment downtown, with a boutique, branded hotel at the former Hotel Gordon facility that once housed the city’s utilities department, and a 31-room extended-stay facility with retail space downstairs at the building that was once the home of the Rosenberg Brothers Department Store.

The Albany City Commission, which heard details and asked questions about the project at a Tuesday work session, could vote on approval of the project next week.

The city’s contribution would be selling the buildings for a total of $200,000, and development company CL RED is also asking for a $5 million loan.

A second development project, this one in the Harlem District, also was brought to the commission on Tuesday for consideration, and a vote could be taken on it next week as well.

On Tuesday, city and company officials were at two other buildings formerly owned by The Herald — one the former press room — to examine them for potential inclusion in the project.

The site was an auto dealership in the early 20th Century, so turning them into a parking area would be sort of returning them to their original use, CL RED President Nathan Watson said during an interview following the presentation to commissioners.

“Rather than tear it down, why not have covered parking?” he said. “There are some really wonderful things about downtown Albany.”

The company was asked to look at the project by the original development company that was looking to develop the Gordon site into a hotel, which abandoned the project last year, but was not in a position to participate with them at the time, Watson said. Now CL RED is excited to take over for what could be a game-changer for the downtown area.

“We do believe this is a transformative project for downtown,” Shay Brokemond, vice president of corporate development for the development firm’s parent company CL Enterprises, told commissioners.

Earlier during the meeting, commissioners heard a proposal for a redevelopment in the city’s Harlem District that was once a thriving neighborhood made up of black residents and included a business district that included the former Ritz Theater, doctors offices and other professionals and businesses.

The Harlem renaissance project would include apartment units, commercial space and a food hub, along with health care and retail development.

It has a total projected budget of about $14 million for the first phase and $20 million overall, said Latoya Cutts, president of the Core Group. Of that, the company is seeking up to a $3.6 million loan toward the project.

The city opened a new transportation center at the corner of West Oglethorpe Boulevard and South Jackson Street earlier this year near the former Ritz Theater building, and the anticipated project adds private investment to the mix.

“We think this project complements the investment that has been done in terms of infrastructure,” Cutts said. “I think this development complements that (transportation center).”

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
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