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Planning board defers decision on 43 Columbia Street conversion for further departmental and historic review
Summary
The board deferred action on a proposal to convert a parking structure at 43 Columbia Street into additional housing (adding 37 units) to allow time for further departmental review and historic-preservation review; staff cited moratorium rules requiring full curb-to-curb street replacement for any right-of-way work.
The City of Albany Planning Board voted Dec. 2 to defer a development plan review for 43 Columbia Street after planning staff and the applicant described the project as an early-stage conversion of an historic parking structure to residential use.
The applicant described the property as a former garage converted partially in 2018 and proposed converting additional floors to create 37 new units, bringing the building to about 59 dwelling units, with approximately 40 off-street parking spaces to remain. The developer said the residential conversion has performed well but that parking occupancy had underperformed expectations.
Planning staff noted the project sits in a historic district and is a qualified historic tax-credit project that will require review by the historic preservation authority (certificate of appropriateness) if any exterior work is proposed. Staff also flagged a recent street reconstruction moratorium: any right-of-way work would trigger a requirement to replace the entire curb-to-curb street and sidewalk, a material scope and cost issue. Because multiple departmental comments remain outstanding, staff recommended deferral; the board moved, seconded and voted to defer the item to allow agency reviews and referral to the county planning board for its December meeting.
No final action was taken; the applicant will return after addressing departmental and historic-preservation comments.
