Latest version of large mixed-use development in downtown Albany back up for review
Approval for a large, mixed-use development in downtown Albany is still another month or more away after the city planning board didn't take action on the revised drawings at this week's meeting, a decision that irritated a project executive who had expected construction to finally start in April.
"I'm so frustrated with the process and where we are," said Melissa Zell, president and chief operating officer at Pioneer Cos. in Syracuse, which is pursuing the hotel/apartment/retail development near Quackenbush Square on Broadway.
"On a technicality [the planning] staff said the board can't vote because they didn’t notify the neighbors and didn’t tell the county [planning board]," she added. "I thought I was going to lose my mind Tuesday night."
Brian Shea, the chief of staff for Mayor Kathy Sheehan, pushed back on that characterization of the situation.
"Pioneer still needs to provide basic information to our planning department. They haven't even paid the application fee," Shea said in a text message. "They received concept review as a courtesy. They will receive full planning review when they provide the information that is required and meet the same standards that we hold every developer to."
Zell said the company has already invested $12 million — including roughly $6 million removing contaminated soil from the site across from the Leo W. O'Brien Federal Building — and wants to get the project built.
But she said circumstances could change due to cost, the economy or other factors.
"Until it's built, it's threatened," Zell said. "Who knows? Look at what happened in 2008 [with the recession]. We have a term sheet with our financier but we can't close on that until we're through planning and the IDA. Any time you don't have these agreements signed, sealed and delivered, there’s always a risk."
Shea said the city is committed to working with Pioneer Cos. Changes were made to the design that was approved by the planning board in January 2018, prompting the new review, he said.
"Our staff has invested hundreds of hours of time trying to assist this developer," Shea said. "The project before the city does not even resemble what the planning board previously approved and we want nothing more than to have a transformative project at that site."
Zell acknowledged Pioneer Cos. changed the design and the city needs time to go over the plans. But she thought the process would proceed smoothly since the planning board was familiar with the original concept.
"I have reached out to confirm that [the mayor] and the city are still supportive of the project," Zell said in an email. "Our best chance of getting the Quackenbush back on track from a timing perspective requires our collective ability to trust one another and work as a team to reach a shared goal."
The new design eliminates a 167-space underground parking garage because construction estimates were $6 million to $7 million — much higher than anticipated. Instead, Pioneer Cos. would have 61 surface level parking spaces and a smaller pedestrian plaza.
Hotel guests, apartment tenants and others could use existing nearby parking, including the Albany Parking Authority's Quackenbush Garage, Zell said.
Source:
https://www.bizjournals.com/albany/n...-version2.html