Downtown Albany Master Plan

Details:

  • City of Albany, DDA, and ADICA

  • Albany, GA

Highlights:

  • Public participation activities to better understand challenges and define a vision for the downtown area
  • Focus on preservation, invigorating downtown, and investments in parks and open spaces
  • Priority recommendations for compatible infill development and redevelopment of historic buildings

Description:

The City of Albany, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority of Albany (DDA) and the Albany Dougherty Inner-City Authority (ADICA), engaged TSW to lead a consultant team in creating a comprehensive plan for the city’s downtown area. This plan outlines a clear vision and actionable steps to promote high-quality development and redevelopment in Downtown Albany, incorporating Town & Gown Planning to enhance collaboration between the city and local educational institutions.

Building on previous planning efforts, the plan was thoroughly vetted through stakeholder groups and the general public, aiming to sustain and amplify the existing momentum and energy of Downtown Albany. Close collaboration between the TSW Team and other consultants working concurrently on related plans affecting Downtown Albany ensured that all recommendations were cohesively integrated. Ultimately, this plan provides recommendations that are feasible and aligned with the resources the City and its partners can allocate to Downtown Albany.

To guide the planning process and recommendations, TSW developed 12 Big Ideas based on input from stakeholders and the community.

  • 1
    Preserve and Rehabilitate Downtown Buildings
  • 2
    Housing Infill and Rehabilitation
  • 3
    Central Common
  • 4
    More Restaurants and Entertainment
  • 5
    Branding and Marketing
  • 6
    Heritage Trail (including existing Freedom Trail)
  • 7
    Albany Hub: New Mixed-Use District
  • 8
    Invest in Parks and Open Space
  • 9
    Preserve Historic Character
  • 10
    Promote Art
  • 11
    Support Streetscape Improvements
  • 12
    Connecting Downtown and ASU