As a member of the New York State Assembly representing a portion of the City of Albany, and as a newly appointed member of the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA), I feel compelled to comment on recent news accounts regarding the development of the 10-acre site owned by the ACCA. The articles mention the potential of Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan (CDPHP) to relocate at the site. This interest has provoked rebuke from the development community, and frankly, I concur with them. Public sector authorities should not interfere with private sector development.

To be clear, I am expressing my own personal opinion and not that of the ACCA. While the concept of a convention center is not dead, funding realities have resulted in rethinking by all involved. It is important for all to remember the original mission of the ACCA, which can be found on the ACCA website (www.accany.com):

The Authority was created to meet an immediate need to institute a comprehensive, coordinated program of convention activities in the City of Albany. It will provide the City of Albany with the ability to develop, renovate and undertake economic development projects in the historic downtown area to optimize the economic and social activities of the city and its environs.

Economic development in the downtown area has been and continues to be a high priority for Mayor Jennings, Senator Breslin and the Assembly delegation. It is possible that the convention center may take a different course as a result of financial resources being constrained, but I am unaware of any specific commercial project proposed for the ACCA site. The ACCA site has been carefully assembled at a cost of more than $10 million and has undergone significant environmental review which is both costly and necessary for redevelopment of any kind.

The bottom line is that this is a valuable resource. If there is a decision to abandon the construction of a convention center on that specific site, the ACCA, through a competitive process, should solicit redevelopment proposals to maximize the ultimate use of this site. This would result in returning the property to the tax rolls and would be in concert with the Albany 2030 plan. Redevelopment of this area should be sensitive to the will and the needs of the people of the city, particularly the need for jobs, housing and quality of life for our residents.

During my tenure as Mayor of Cohoes, our community generated more than $100 million of private sector development in an industrial mill town while at the same time respecting historic preservation. I am confident that an open and competitive process for ultimate use of the ACCA site, with significant public input, can and will yield great results for all parties involved.