Affordable housing proposed in Albany

Project would build 20 apartments on Clinton Avenue

An affordable housing apartment complex is slated to be constructed on a strip of vacant land on Clinton Avenue, adding to the multimillion-dollar affordable housing projects already underway to rehabilitate properties on the Arbor Hill street.

Altamont-based Rehabilitation Support Services, which provides community-based mental health and substance abuse services across the Capital Region, wants to build a $4.3 million, three-story, 20unit apartment complex on the land at 104 Clinton Ave., which officials say would provide affordable housing to those who meet the state’s income thresholds.

Timothy Fogarty, director of facility services at Rehabilitation Support Services, said the project is in the preliminary stages as the group continues to solidify funding for the project.

“It’s a very tight market for rentals, which means what’s available is rather expensive — and the people we serve can’t afford expensive,” he said.

While it will be one building, Fogarty said, the façade will look like multiple rowhouses to fit in with the surrounding neighborhood.

They’ll present the project for the first time Thursday to the Albany Planning Board.

The multifamily building project comes at a time when Clinton Avenue is seeing significant investment, with the $48 million rehabilitation of 70 buildings on the Arbor Hill street by Rochester-based Home Leasing.

The company is expected to begin construction and rehabilitation on the buildings along Clinton Avenue by early July once funding from the state is finalized, said Adam Driscoll, Home Leasing’s development manager. The units also will be affordable housing.

The project is one of several on the city planning board’s agenda next week, along with a previously scuttled apartment complex on Western Avenue, further review of a five-story mixed-use building on Central Avenue and a $2.5 million office and warehouse in the Port of Albany.

Kasselman Electric is considering a vacant spot on South Pearl Street to construct two 25,000-square-foot warehouses and a smaller 7,155-square-foot building for office space at 881 S. Pearl St.

Richard Hendrick Sr., the Port of Albany’s general manager, said Friday the sale of the lot at the far end of the port on South Pearl is contingent upon approval of the project. Moving to the port would allow the large electrical company, currently located on Broad Street in Albany, to possibly expand, Hendrick said.

“The big thing is we’re working with Mr. Kasselman to try and keep his business in the city of Albany, and add employment for city residents,” he said.

According to the project’s application with the city Department of Planning and Development, the business would build the one-story office building and warehouse first, with a second warehouse to be built in a later phase.

Kevin Heelan, controller at Kasselman Electric, declined to comment for this story.