ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Ten years from now, some Albany residents believe downtown will be filled with people, mid to high-rise buildings and plenty of entertainment. But getting there isn’t just about vision. It’s about the city responding to what the people want.

Albany’s downtown master plan market analysis found that the commercial vacancy rate downtown sits at 35%, nearly 1,100 jobs have left the area since 2011. And the population has been shrinking — not just downtown but across the community.

The plan also found an opportunity because Albany is the major employment center in the region, highlighting the need for 325 to 380 new residential units downtown over the next 15 years.

Housing is a key ingredient to attracting the grocery stores, restaurants and businesses that residents, like Albany native Adam Inyang, say they want.

Adam has lived in Washington D.C. and Tallahassee, Florida, then came back to Albany because he says the potential isn’t just in the plan, it’s already here.

“The more that we are able to speak up, get engaged, get in front of our leaders’ faces, the more we can control and keep that money home. Because there’s no reason why that money can’t circulate right here a few times over and make, you know, this side look much better, make that side look much better,” he said. “It just takes smart, intentional investment. But that narrative as if Albany is poor, Albany doesn’t have— Albany is crime-ridden, all of that, that’s not the truth. The truth is we have more than what— more than enough to make this place look and feel the way we know it can feel.”

The plan also calls for revitalizing the Harlem District, once the heart of African American commerce in Albany, relying on financial tools like Tax Allocation Districts and historic tax credits to incentivize private developers to take a chance on Albany.

Albany Community Together, Inc. (ACT!) is one of the anchor institutions helping make that happen providing access to capital, coaching and connections for small businesses trying to get off the ground.

“It is a long-term investment strategy for maybe the five to 10 years. But we’re hoping within that five to 10 that we’re able to attract private investments without the city incentives. Because we would create… We have created a proven market from my master plan," Dr. Thelma Johnson, ACT President & CEO.

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More than 70 residents attended the workshops to build this plan, and the message they sent was clear: They want more restaurants, more entertainment, more places to live and more reasons to stay.

“Albany, downtown Albany needs something that is attractive for families and the young people,” Inyang said. “We need entertainment down here. The brewery was a good idea but you have to make sure that you are taking note of the 70-plus percent Black majority that you have in this community. Cater to that audience. Cater to the young audience. Cater to Albany State that’s right across the river. Bring something for them and it will be successful.”

If investments are made and the plan is followed, downtown Albany could absorb more than 160,000 square feet of new commercial space and hundreds of new residential units over the next 15 years.

The people have spoken. Now, the question is whether the plan can be delivered.

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