New legislation proposes redevelopment authority of Saint Rose properties
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- New legislation was proposed Thursday to create the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority (ACPHLA), a redevelopment authority to oversee the College of Saint Rose's former facilities and properties. According to the office of Assembly Member Patricia Fahy, the ACPHLA would have the power to plan, develop, acquire, and construct the College of Saint Rose's former properties.
The ACPHLA would have seven members, all residents of Albany County. Four members would be appointed by the Albany County Executive, the Chair of the Albany County Legislature would appoint two, and the Mayor of the City of Albany would appoint one. Each would serve four-year terms.
To finance the group, the ACPHLA would be authorized to issue bonds and have the power to levy and collect fees, revenues, or other income it deems necessary for any project, facility, or property under its authority.
The College of Saint Rose announced it would close at the end of the academic year back in November 2023. The last day of classes was Wednesday, May 8.
“The closure of Saint Rose leaves a hole in our hearts and in Albany’s beloved Pine Hills neighborhood, which leaves residents, businesses, and community members rightly anxious about its former properties’ future,” said Assemblymember Patricia Fahy (D—Albany). “Creating a public development authority will ensure critical oversight and the repurposing of the former properties, while providing a blueprint for the future. As someone who lives less than a mile from the Saint Rose campus, I am committed to bridging this gap and ensuring the continued economic vitality of the Pine Hills area. I commend Albany County Executive Dan McCoy for his partnership and vision in creating the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority, and I look forward to continued work with our City, County, and state leaders and partners.”
"The College of Saint Rose has been a presence in the Pine Hills neighborhood for more than a century, and its closure impacts the Pine Hills neighborhood, the City of Albany, and the entire Capital Region,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “I am appreciative to Senator Breslin, Assemblymember Fahy, and Assemblymember McDonald for executing on County Executive McCoy's vision and proposing this new public redevelopment authority to help acquire and repurpose the 87 properties The College of Saint Rose currently owns. I look forward to continuing to work alongside our State Delegation, County partners, and the Pine Hills neighborhood to ensure the continued vitality of the Pine Hills neighborhood for generations to come."