Project OverviewThe Vision
11 Clinton Avenue's premier location as the key gateway to the Capital presents a unique opportunity and exemplifies the need for redevelopment into a productive, vibrant destination. Redevelopment must support adjacent arts and cultural assets and needs to connect Downtown to Arbor Hill and Sheridan Hollow, the Waterfront, and the Warehouse District. Reestablishing this Park as a landmark and active participant in the Downtown streetscape will contribute to the growing vibrancy and momentum present in the City of Albany. The new concept for 11 Clinton Avenue is to being designed include diverse pop-up retail, installments by local artists, signature events, enhanced pedestrian connections, and ultimately provide a venue for authentic local and regional experiences. Inspiration, Funding & Implementation In September of 2018, the City of Albany was a Round III awardee for Governor Cuomo’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) for the section of City referred to as Clinton Square. Through the DRI, the City of Albany will focus on making Clinton Square a welcoming entry to the capital city. This compact and walkable area, rich in history, arts and cultural assets, within easy reach of the Hudson River, is where five City investment zones converge. After an engaging six month planning process, 12 transformational projects for Albany's Clinton Square neighborhood were identified and announced as part of the $10 million DRI award. The Clinton Market Collective project at 11 Clinton Avenue was identified as one of the 12 projects selected for State funding, with the funding ultimately intended for design, engineering and construction of the park at 11 Clinton Avenue as a new market concept and proving ground for startup businesses. Background 11 Clinton Avenue, currently an underutilized space, was originally within the roadbed of Clinton Avenue, one of the oldest streets in the City of Albany. Development scenarios are limited by significant public service utilities on the site and spatial constraints of the site itself. Located in the heart of Albany’s Clinton Square, this underutilized Clinton Avenue property greets more than 24,000 people arriving daily into Downtown. As part of extensive public outreach and discussions with community stakeholders, this site was identified as a desirable location for a new gateway and flexible market space. |
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About the Project Sponsor
Capitalize Albany Corporation, as owner of the property, is the DRI awardee and project sponsor. Capitalize Albany Corporation was established in 1979 with the mission “to facilitate strategic economic development and stimulate transformative investment throughout the City of Albany, making New York’s Capital a vibrant place to thrive.” As a catalyst for economic growth, Capitalize Albany Corporation facilitates transformational development projects, serving as the City of Albany’s economic development arm.
About the Design Team
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Our team’s unique skill sets bridge the disciplines of Urban Design, Planning, Engineering, Economic Development and Landscape Architecture to create vibrant and sustainable projects that reflect the values and aspirations of the communities we represent. Our specialized ability to observe, listen, and exceptionally communicate both verbally and graphically enables us to efficiently deliver design driven solutions with feedback and buy-in from the public throughout our interactive charrette process. We are honored to be working with the city of Albany on this transformative project.
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