Albany, New York, plans for Sheridan Hollow

Even thought the Albany Common Council voted to adopted the city’s new Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance USDO) last May, the city is already moving to incorporate a fifth neighborhood in the code’s form-based zoning provisions. Sheridan Hollow is among the oldest areas of Albany, located immediately adjacent to (but down a steep embankment from) both downtown and the New York state government complex. From August 7-10, Clarion subcontractor Dover Kohl Partners led a four day on-site design exercise that drew broad participation from residents, local business owners, and redevelopment investors to define a new vision for reinvigorating Sheridan Hollow and improving its linkages to downtown. The resulting Regulating Plan and Street Network Plan will be integrated into the city’s new hybrid USDO — as were similar maps and controls for four other key redevelopment opportunity areas in the city. Mayor Cathy Sheehan addressed the workshop to express her support for this important effort.