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Riverfront plan generates buzz

• Establishments that sell alcohol are the focus of a public hearing on a proposed Downtown Riverfront District.

Carlton Fletcher

ALBANY — If he said it once, Assistant City Manager James Taylor said it 25 times at a Tuesday evening public hearing: “The proposed Downtown Riverfront District is not an entertainment district.”

Just under 50 residents voiced their concerns and asked questions about the district at the hearing held to get input from the public concerning the district that will encompass Radium Springs/Broadway as an eastern boundary, the alley on Madison Street as a western boundary, the alley on Mercer Street as a southern boundary and the alley on Residence Avenue as a northern boundary.

“This is only a proposal,” Taylor told the spirited audience, many of whom were concerned about the stipulation that current ordinances such as the one that prohibits establishments that primarily sell alcoholic beverages from locating within 1,000 feet of other such businesses would not apply in the new district. “There’s a lot more that has to be done with this before we’re finished.

“The purpose of this meeting is to get input from you to take to the City Commission for their consideration. You can rest assured that I will share your concerns with commissioners.”

The Rev. Chip Gresham, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, expressed concern that the Riverfront District would have the opposite effect rather than creating the “family-friendly” atmosphere that the proposal calls for.

“As much as you say you want a family atmosphere, by allowing more establishments that sell alcohol you actually run the risk of increasing crime,” Gresham said.

Another pastor echoed Gresham’s concern that the Riverfront plan diminishes the importance of churches and schools in the proposed district.

“What I see is that you’re giving the city commission the right to waive restrictions on bars,” the Rev. Bob Prince of Shepherd’s Fold Church said. “But there’s no concern for churches or schools except to say that the ones that are established after the district is in place will not be bound by the rules already in place.

“I’d like to go on the record as opposing this.”

Despite Taylor and City Manager Alfred Lott’s assurances that the proposed Riverfront District is not “merely about bars,” many in the audience drilled officials about that topic.

“You mentioned that this district is about economic development, which the city definitely needs,” Gil Ward said. “But the main changes I’ve heard you talk about are putting in bar, bar, bar, nightclub, nightclub. Bars and nightclubs will not bring economic development. I think you are missing the point; the city needs new dollars for economic development.”

Attorney Al Corriere defended the proposal as an attempt to bring about needed change to the district.

“I’ve tried to market several properties downtown,” Corriere said. “It’s difficult. This proposal is not an attempt to turn the district into a region of establishments that sell alcohol. To say because of that one issue that you would turn down a forward-thinking idea like this is ridiculous. Just because you read something in the newspaper — and I hope this shows that you can’t believe everything you read in The Albany Herald — that’s not the entire story.

“There is absolutely nothing wrong with people wanting to have wine with their dinner.”

In response to a question from Wesley Robinson about the types of businesses that will locate downtown, Taylor assured the audience that the proposed district would be open to any type of establishment.

“The proposal is for a mixed-use district, plain and simple,” Taylor said. “We’ll welcome any kind of business, not just restaurants, bars and nightclubs.”

Sue Keenan, co-owner of the downtown King Tut Jewelry, asked if businesses would be given special incentives to locate downtown.

“I would hope so,” Taylor said. “I hope everyone understands that this is not the whole picture. We have to get the zone established before we can start work on these other things.”

Albany Tomorrow Inc. Interim President/CEO Greg McCormack offered his support for the plan.

“I applaud this effort, and I’m speaking more as Greg McCormack than I am as an official with ATI,” he said. “I don’t think this proposal is meant as the be-all, end-all to solve downtown’s problems. It doesn’t take away at all what we have in the (Downtown) Master Plan.

“We seem to be focused on an entertainment district, and that’s not what we’re talking about at all.”

Taylor said there would be two more hearings before the commission considers a vote on the proposal.

After the meeting, 25 or so members of Future Now conducted a prayer vigil near the fountain adjacent to the Government Center.

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