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Commission revisits $2 million land bank MOU, splits focus between medical district and south-side sites
Summary
Commissioners returned a revised memorandum of understanding for a $2 million allocation to the Land Bank Authority intended to support housing. Discussion centered on directing $1 million toward the medical district and $1 million for properties near city-owned assets on the south side; staff said the MOU will be modified and brought back
The City of Albany Commission discussed a revised memorandum of understanding on June 3 that would allocate $2 million to the Land Bank Authority to support housing initiatives, with commissioners seeking to direct the funds toward the medical district and select south-side areas near city-owned properties.
City Attorney Michael Custer and city staff told the commission the new MOU reflected prior direction to use some funds in the medical district and to target remaining funds near city-owned assets such as Story Road, District Park, Dressler Gym and Marion Carmen. Commissioners referenced earlier retreat discussions that had identified a consensus to use a combination of year‑end settlement funds and capital allocations for the medical district and other south-side projects.
Commissioner Vilnius Gaines advocated spreading funds across lots on the south side to attract developers and to stimulate investment around vacant lots on Story Road. Some commissioners framed the allocation as workforce housing and said a $1 million commitment to the medical district and a $1 million commitment to sites near city assets was an acceptable compromise.
The city attorney and other staff said the MOU’s redlined paragraph needed modification to clarify which party would shepherd the medical-district allocation; staff indicated they would revise the language and return the MOU for final action. The commission discussed existing contracts with a firm to develop spec house plans and said those projects could begin once financing and MOU terms are finalized.
No final vote to adopt the revised MOU was recorded at the June 3 meeting; commissioners asked staff to refine language, confirm funding sources and return with a final MOU for approval.
