Albany Convention Center

The Albany Convention Center (ACC) was a proposed convention center to be located in downtown Albany, New York. The complex was initially proposed by Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings in 1994. In 2004, the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA) was established by the New York Legislature as a New York State public-benefit corporation to develop plans for the ACC. Supported by Governor George Pataki, the project was awarded a $75 million grant in 2006. The anticipated price tag of the project was approximately $220 million,[1] and a site between Broadway, Hudson Avenue, and the South Mall Arterial was selected.

Albany Convention Center
Artist rendition viewed from the current location of Liberty Street
AddressHudson Avenue and Broadway
LocationAlbany, New York
Coordinates42°38′49.39″N 73°45′8.91″W
OwnerAlbany Convention Center Authority
OperatorSMG Management
OpenedN/A
Construction cost
$220 million (projected)
Enclosed space
 • Total space300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) (projected)
 • Exhibit hall floor1
 • Ballroom2
Website
http://www.accany.com/

In December 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo approved plans for a different, smaller convention center to be built at the intersection of Howard and Eagle Streets.[2] The Albany Capital Center,[3] a $78 million project that was largely paid for using the $75 million state grant that had been set aside for the ACC,[2][1][4] opened on March 1, 2017.[5] As of November 2016, there were no plans to develop the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center; the ACCA had reportedly "spent $8 million for the properties, and another $3.8 million on site costs for the $220 million-plus convention center and hotel that never happened."[2]

In April 2018, the Albany Times Union reported that the ACCA wished to sell the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center to a nonprofit economic development organization for $1.[6]

Organization

The ACCA board chair is Megan Daly, who was appointed to the board in 2013 by Governor Andrew Cuomo. As of 2018, there are six other members of the ACCA listed on its website, with members being appointed from the New York State Senate, the New York State Assembly, the Mayor of Albany, New York, and the Albany County, New York Executive.[7] In 2017, the ACCA had operating expenses of $4.75 million, an outstanding debt of $980,000, and a level of staffing of 2 people.[8]

History

Initial plans

The plan originated with Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings and various supporters in 1994,[9] though progress was not actually made until 2002 when the mayor put out a "request for expressions of interest", with which the mayor requested possible locations for the convention center as well as preliminary designs and cost estimates.[10] The complex was initially expected to cost between $140 and $160 million.[11] The incentive for such a plan was based mainly on the lack of significant convention space in Albany and potential profits that could be generated from such a center in the state capital. Early plans suggested a 400-room hotel and up to 130,000 square feet (12,000 m2) of convention space, large enough to accommodate 5,000 to 7,000 people.[12]

Plans expanded quickly and by early 2003, estimates had reached $185 million with 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) and parking for up to 1,500 cars. By this time a Jennings-appointed convention center task force had yet to decide on a site. The top two locations were west of the Times Union Center between State and Beaver Streets and east of the Times Union Center in the area bounded by Broadway, Beaver Street, and Green Street.[13]

Government support

In June 2004, with the support of Governor George Pataki, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, and Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, the New York Legislature established the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA),[14] the public body entrusted with developing the convention center. The outcome was not that preferred by Jennings: his initial plan sought a development authority with greater power and the ability to finance up to $500 million with state backing. As created by the Legislature, the Authority was a group made of members to be appointed by a number of different state officials, with a finance limit of $185 million.[15]

In 2005, Albany County's three-percent hotel tax was increased to five percent; a year later, it was increased to six percent. The additional tax was expected to raise $3 million annually in an effort to pay off the ACCA's $8.5 million estimated annual cost.[Note 1][16] Many local hotel owners and managers opposed the increased tax since the proceeds were funding a future competitor.[17]

In early 2008, after a study by an architectural firm, the estimated cost was increased to almost $400 million. Jennings, the original proposer of the ACC, responded to this estimate by indicating the plan might no longer be viable. Members of the Authority, however, disagreed. At this time the plans were revised to include a 244,000-square-foot (22,700 m2) convention center, a 400-room Sheraton Hotel and a raised parking garage with capacity for 1,100 cars. The project's major setback was lack of funding from the state, which was dealing with a $4.4 billion budget deficit.[17] Many locals opposed the plan as wasteful spending; in contrast, a February 2008 Times Union editorial indicated its support saying, "This is a state project, not a city project and one entirely deserving of a commitment even larger than the $205 million that's been approved already."[18]

With the state only approving about $200 million (including a $75 million grant from Governor Pataki), the ACCA made it clear in April 2008 that state tax money should pay for the difference ($190 million) in funding the project.[19] In response, the new Paterson administration contracted with PricewaterhouseCoopers to review the viability of the project. By this point the project had spent only $2 million of the $75 million allotted by former Governor Pataki. The funding could only be spent on master planning.[20] While waiting for approval from the State, the project was given permission to begin archaeological digs around the preferred site between Broadway, Hudson Avenue and the South Mall Arterial. Various relics from Albany's Dutch past were uncovered and catalogued for inclusion in future museum displays.[21]

While ACCA board member (and Albany Assemblyman) Jack McEneny stated his belief that the ACC would eventually pay for itself through its revenue, the Empire Center for Public Policy described it as "a white elephant from the start. Here at a time where our borrowing is already excessive and our state budget is already overcommitted, you're talking about bailing out a project that was unnecessary to begin with." A study sponsored by the ACCA projected that the ACC would bring in 50 to 85 events annually, each lasting one to four days; 100,000 to 185,000 more annual visitors are expected to the city as a result.[22]

A site between Broadway, Hudson Avenue, and the South Mall Arterial was selected as the location of the Albany Convention Center.[23]

In November 2009, the ACCA revealed its design for the ACC, developed by HNTB. The ACCA was able to reduce its earlier $400 million estimate by turning hotel and parking garage development over to private developers. This brought the cost estimate down to between $225 million and $240 million. After considering the cost of goods and commodities during the economic recession, the estimate dropped again to $220 million.[24]

Because the project was not shovel-ready at the time, the ACC was not eligible for stimulus funds.[25]

Amid large cuts proposed by Andrew Cuomo in his 2011 budget, the original funding for the ACC remained.[26]

Procuring land
Land Acquisitions
Date Size
(acre)		 Price Seller Ref.
31 Jul 2009 0.5 $469,673 Greyhound Lines [27]
28 Aug 2009 0.39 $435,000 Albany County [28]
24 Feb 2010 0.33 $550,000 Capitalize Albany Corp. [29]
20 Aug 2010 3.0 $5,900,000 City Square Associates [30]

A site between Broadway, Hudson Avenue, and the South Mall Arterial was selected as the location of the Albany Convention Center.[23] As of 2010, the proposed site consisted mostly of surface-level parking lots.[29]

In late 2008, $10 million (part of the original $75 million promised by Governor Pataki) was released by Governor Paterson to begin the acquisition of the land necessary for the project. The first piece of land, a 0.5-acre (0.20 ha) parking lot, was bought in July 2009 from Greyhound Lines at a cost of $469,673.[27] In August 2009, the Albany County Legislature approved the sale of nine vacant county-owned lots—totaling 0.39 acres (0.16 ha)—to the ACCA at a cost of $453,000.[28] In February 2010, the ACCA bought about 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) of land, which brought its total to about 1.5 acres (0.61 ha).[29] In August 2010 it purchased about 3 acres (1.2 ha) of land at a cost of $5.9 million. After this sale, the ACCA had acquired about 75% of the land necessary for the project.[30]

Proposed design
Bird's eye view of the proposed Albany Convention Center as of November 2009; Broadway is shown at bottom-left, Hudson Avenue is along right side.

The proposed design of the Albany Convention Center called for a brick and glass structure with an exhibition hall, two ballrooms and other various meeting spaces totaling about 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2).[24] In early 2008, it was announced that the site would include a 400-room Sheraton Hotel, to be run by Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc., of White Plains; a 300,000-square-foot (28,000 m2) convention center, to be operated by SMG Management (the company that operates the Times Union Center), and an 1,100-car parking garage. A bridge would also connect the convention center to the Times Union Center.[17] The back of the center would face the South Mall Arterial, and there would be loading docks on that side of the structure. A plaza near the center of the complex would face Broadway. The design allowed for future expansion of the convention space.[24]

The Van Ostrande-Radliff House, which is believed to be the oldest building in the city of Albany, is located within the proposed footprint of the ACC.[31] The house was built by Johannes van Ostrande around 1728 and is a rare example of Dutch architecture from its time. Owner Brian Parker reached an agreement with the ACCA that the building would be saved, possibly making use of it as a visitor's center.[32]

Controversy

There was significant opposition to the proposed Albany Convention Center. Some opponents argued that Albany did not need a new convention center at all, others suggested that the ACCA consider expanding current convention facilities, and still others proposed moving the project to the University Heights neighborhood, the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering campus, or the Harriman State Office Campus.[33] Some opponents suggested that the ACC funds be to buy up vacant buildings and renovate them as a stimulus for the downtown economy instead of being used for a convention center. Opponents also questioned the cost of the project[29] and the availability of construction workers in the Albany area.[34]

Albany Capital Center

In December 2013, Governor Andrew Cuomo approved plans for a different, smaller convention center to be built at the intersection of Howard and Eagle Streets.[2] The Albany Capital Center, a $78 million project that was largely paid for using the $75 million state grant that had been set aside for the ACC,[2][1][4] opened on March 1, 2017.[5] The Albany Capital Center website does not indicate whether the convention center has a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design status.[35] The Chairman of the ACCA during the planning and construction of the built structure was Gavin J. Donohue, President and CEO of Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc.[36]

Later developments

As of November 2016, there were no plans to develop the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center; the ACCA had reportedly "spent $8 million for the properties, and another $3.8 million on site costs for the $220 million-plus convention center and hotel that never happened."[2]

In April 2018, the Albany Times Union reported that the ACCA wished to sell portions of the proposed site of the Albany Convention Center to Capitalize Albany Corp.--a nonprofit economic development organization—for one dollar; Capitalize Albany reportedly expressed interest in redeveloping the property, which was described by the Times Union as a "commercial dead zone of parking lots, decrepit buildings and the former Adirondack Trailways bus station."[6]

Notes
  1. Until construction on the project began, the revenues were to be split, with $1 million going toward administrative costs for the Albany Convention Center Authority and $2 million going directly toward the debt that Albany County owed for the Times Union Center (which the county owned).[16]
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See also

References
  1. Jordan Carleo-Evangelist (2016-04-19). "State backs $12M more for Albany convention center costs". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  2. Lauren Stanforth (2016-11-27). "As Albany's Capital Center rises, old site crumbles". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  3. http://www.albanycapitalcenter.com/
  4. John Cropley (2016-03-14). "In Albany, public-private partnership brought convention center to life". The Daily Gazette. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  5. "Albany's Capital Center opens". Times Union (Albany). 2017-03-02. Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  6. Madison Iszler (2018-04-13). "What to do with downtown Albany's biggest vacant lot?". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  7. "ACCA Org Website". Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  8. "NYSABO 2018 Report" (PDF). pp. 16, 29, 44. Retrieved November 5, 2018.
  9. Lebrun, Fred (2010-03-28). "Another Step In a Complex Dance". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. D1. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  10. No author listed (2002-02-13). "Wanted: Convention Center, Hotel Sites". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  11. Duggan, Erin (2002-04-19). "Albany Convention Center Proposals Are In". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  12. Harlan, Kevin (2002-12-15). "Lure of Profits Propels Plan". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. E1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  13. Nearing, Brian (2003-04-29). "Breslin Backs County Hotel Tax". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  14. Duggan, Erin (2004-06-24). "State Leaders Exit Angry". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  15. Woodruff, Cathy; James M. Odato (2003-06-17). "Lawmakers Alter Plan for Convention Center". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B3. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  16. O'Brien, Tim (2008-03-09). "Extension of Hotel Tax at Issue". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. E1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  17. O'Brien, Tim (2008-01-31). "Pet Project Now in Doghouse". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  18. No author listed (2008-02-03). "Yes, a Convention Center". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  19. Odato, James M. (2008-04-16). "A Cost Shift for Convention Center?". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A3. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  20. Odato, James M. (2008-04-18). "Outside Scrutiny for Center". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-01.
  21. O'Brien, Tim (2008-06-17). "Convention Center Authority Digging In". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. D1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  22. O'Brien, Tim (2008-08-30). "Expenses Won't Wait for Convention Site". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  23. Churchill, Chris (2009-11-20). "Designs on downtown Albany's future". Times Union (Albany). Retrieved 2018-07-04.
  24. Churchill, Chris (2009-11-20). "Designs on Downtown Albany's Future". Times Union (Albany). p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  25. DeMasi, Michael (2009-01-30). "No Money in Stimulus Package for Convention Center". The Business Review (Albany). American City Business Journals, Inc. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  26. Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2011-02-02). "Governor's Budget Keeps Convention Center Alive". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. Retrieved 2011-02-02.
  27. Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2009-08-01). "Deal Signals Start of Acquisition". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B4. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  28. Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2009-08-29). "Center Land Buys Grow". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. p. B8. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  29. Churchill, Chris (2010-02-25). "Convention Center Land Buys Continue". Times Union (Albany). p. C1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-30.
  30. Carleo-Evangelist, Jordan (2010-08-27). "Convention center pieces fall into place". Times Union (Albany). Hearst Newspapers. Archived from the original on 18 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  31. "Albany Preservation Report" (PDF). Historic Albany Foundation. Spring 2007. p. 7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-07-05. Retrieved 2010-09-04.
  32. Grondahl, Paul (2008-12-23). "This Old House Under Our Noses". Times Union (Albany). p. D1. Archived from the original on 2011-04-30. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  33. Bray, Paul (2010-02-14). "Forget About an Albany Convention Center". Times Union (Albany). p. B2. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-08-29.
  34. Churchill, Chris (2009-08-17). "Build It and There May Be a Labor Shortage". Times Union (Albany). p. A1. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2010-09-02.
  35. "Albany Convention Center Authority". www.albanycapitalcenter.com. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  36. "Gavin J. Donohue Receives the 2018 James M. DiNapoli Award". downtownalbany.org. 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
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