Albany revitalization plan draws on history

Caption

An architectural rending shows what developers plan for the area bounded by Jefferson St., Highland Ave., Jackson St. and Oglethorpe Blvd. in downtown Albany.

Credit: Harlem Renaissance Corporation

Albany plans to revitalize a once-thriving historically Black commercial district near its downtown.

The city’s Harlem neighborhood used to be the social and economic hub for Blacks in Southwest Georgia.

But it suffered from massive disinvestment over many decades.

Now the city is backing a private developer’s plans to build a retail and residential hub.

The $20 million project draws on current themes in economic development — and area history.

“It’s understanding that you’re going and rebuilding and starting from what did exist,” said Latoya Cutts of the Harlem Renaissance Corporation. “And for people who don’t know that that exists, it’s kind of putting that vibrancy back into the community."

The project sits right next to the city’s new $15 million main transit station, a few blocks from Albany’s waterfront and near an expansion at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital that will need student housing.

It also promises to bring a trendy food hall to the site of a beloved former restaurant, Carter’s.

“It was a staple in the community and everyone remembers it,” Cutts said of Carter’s. “So you’re taking some elements of what was and adding some of those new elements that people are longing to see and that don’t current exist in Albany.”

The food hall has space for seven restaurants, while the residential buildings are designed for 52 apartments and 10 townhomes.

Architectural plans also show 14,000 square feet of retail and office space, plus an event pavilion, courtyard and stage.

The Albany City Commission pledged $2 million in loans to the project last month.

Commissioners also pledged to work out a memorandum of understanding with the corporation over the project’s scope and details.

Demetrius Young, who sits on the commission, remembers when the area was vibrant with Black-owned businesses, including some that were owned by his family members.

“I used to walk up and down those streets and go get my hair cut at my aunt’s barbershop,” Young said. “And I’d walk to my dad’s motel. So it’s an area that’s near and dear to my heart, as it is with many people. It’s part of the fabric of Albany’s African-American community.”

City officials see the development as way to draw new residents, visitors and business owners into a community hard hit in recent year by Hurricane Michael and the coronavirus pandemic.

“It provides a way for us to get people back to the downtown area,” Young said. “I’d like to see new families and people come bring this area to life once again.”

City officials hope to break ground on the project early next year.