Reclaiming a place to live
BY CHRISTINE SCHUDDE
Yes, we can reimagine 787, but we can also reimagine Albany’s entire downtown. Imagine what Albany could be with nearly 100 reclaimed acres of land along our waterfront.
We could replace an interstate monstrosity with an appropriately-scaled boulevard and infrastructure for walking, rolling and bicycling. We could reconnect the South End to downtown to Sheridan Hollow and Arbor Hill and all the way to North Albany. We could rebuild the public commons, the “third places” of connection where neighbors meet and talk outside of work and the home.
We could also build homes. Not just luxury condos, but good, stable, energy efficient homes for the average household. Albany has a housing supply issue— there simply aren’t enough quality housing units to meet the demand. Home prices have soared by nearly 20% in the past year alone and renters and first-time homebuyers are being squeezed from the market. The economic fallout from the pandemic has worsened the housing crisis and increased racial disparities.
Habitat for Humanity Capital District built 13 adorable energy-efficient homes in Albany’s Sheridan Hollow neighborhood.
With reclaimed land from 787, we could build new homes to increase our supply of quality housing. We can use forward-thinking affordability protections to ensure that the housing will be accessible to working families today and for generations to come. We can think more creatively about housing design, working to ensure a diversity of options to meet the needs of families, young children, older adults, people with limited mobility and more. We can build “missing middle housing” that fills the gap between detached single-family homes and high rise apartment buildings. We can build carbon-neutral, energy-efficient and climate-resilient housing in downtown Albany.
We can build homes with access to public green space, bike lanes, parks, shops, restaurants, entertainment, transit and the Hudson River waterfront. We can build a thriving downtown that doesn’t close up as soon as workers drive away. We can build a downtown of neighbors, a community of connection and promise.
Chattanooga, TN boulevarded their riverfront highway and reclaimed the waterfront.
Right now, we have the opportunity to remake Albany’s waterfront and our surrounding neighborhoods. The Albany Riverfront Collaborative has put forth a vision, an initial design to awaken our imaginations and sense of possibility. It is a not a final plan; it is a catalyst. The real promise of the ARC is in the collaboration to come in the months and years ahead. As a collaborative, we commit to go beyond inclusion to co-creation. Together, as neighbors, we can reimagine 787 and co-create the future of our city. •
Christine Schudde is the executive director of Habitat for Humanity Capital District, an organization that builds strength and stability through affordable homeownership. Habitat has built or rehabbed more than 150 homes for sale to first-time homebuyers in Albany and Rensselaer counties. Christine lives in Albany with her family.