Hochul's massive revitalization plans for Albany—finally!

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Happy Tuesday, Capital District! Today, we’re getting all hot & bothered over the governor’s plan for a massive investment in the future of Albany—finally! 👏 Plus, there’s a big stink in Bethlehem, and our House of the Week is your chance to live out your country dreams 🤠 

Correction: Last week, in a blurb about One Dream Jamaican Cafe & Lounge opening in Albany, we wrote that it had us “dreaming of sipping Jamaican rum to the sound of reggaeton.” A subscriber reached out to note that reggae, not reggaeton, is the music of Jamaica. That’s true, of course, but in our defense, Sunday evenings at the cafe are actually set to classic reggaeton, where you just might find Karley dancing like a white girl 🙃 

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Governor Hochul promises $400 million to transform Albany

Albany just got a late Christmas gift—and it’s a big, beautiful one.

In her State of the State address today (watch live here), Gov. Kathy Hochul is outlining a transformative $400 million plan for Albany, aiming to reshape our downtown and—maybe more importantly—its reputation as a city with too much crime and too little going on.

Here are the highlights:

• $200 million for downtown revitalization

• $150 million for a massive overhaul of the NYS Museum

• $35 million to explore reimagining Interstate 787, including opening up the riverfront

The unspecified downtown funding aligns with a proposal by investors to redevelop the Liberty Square district near MVP Arena with housing, restaurants, and a pro soccer stadium—projects that depend on state support. A final plan for these investments is expected by fall, focusing on vacant building repurposing and creating vibrant public spaces.

New life for a musty museum
The New York State Museum is set for a $150 million renovation—10 times the amount previously discussed. A new panel will oversee the project, launching an international design contest and possibly shifting the museum’s management from the state Education Department, which has not been the best steward of our beloved museum by many accounts. See this devastating NYT article: This Museum Is Old. But with $75 Million to Spend, Why Is It So Dingy?

Less crime, more waterfront
The plan includes $1 million for an “Albany Public Safety Surge” to address crime and perceptions of disorder, along with funding for the long-awaited redevelopment of I-787, which could once again reconnect the city to its waterfront. See our story: Can Albany be the Venice of the Northeast?

A new chapter for Albany?
The governor’s office says this audacious $400M plan means that for “the first time in the city’s long history, Albany will have a true partner in New York State.” Which is saying a lot. With fully 63% of the city’s properties tax-exempt, Albany is perpetually starved for funding. This is a long, long time coming, guvnah.

❄️ WEATHER WATCH

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💧🤢 Residents of Bethlehem have called the town’s water “nauseating” and “disgusting” following a massive algae bloom last summer. In response to months of public outcry, the Public Works department is working to eliminate the odor by flushing water pipes through fire hydrants. [Times Union]

🔥 💔 The fires in Los Angeles have really hit home for us here at The 518. We moved to Albany from LA a few short years ago, and still have tons of friends there. Over the past week, we’ve watched in horror as places that we knew and loved have burned to the ground. The Capital Region continues to warm our hearts (if not our toes) as Jezreel International, a humanitarian aid organization based in Albany, deploys two tractor-trailers filled with clothing, personal care items, food and other essentials to wildfire victims. [Spectrum News]

🧊 ⚠️ Beware of thin ice—it’s already been a bad year for ice drownings in the Capital Region. Close on the heels of last month’s tragic drownings of two children in Washington Park Lake is the death of an experienced ice fisherman in Great Sacandaga Lake’s icy waters this weekend. [Daily Gazette]

Make country living within walking distance with this refined 4-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom home in Cambridge. Thoughtfully updated with a keen eye for fine woodworking, this sophisticated beauty features chevron-patterned hardwood floors and matching butcher block countertops. Sitting proudly on just over three-quarters of an acre, the lovingly refurbished property also has an expansive, well-crafted carriage barn. A finished attic space, wood stoves, newer furnace, updated wiring, brand-new appliances, fresh paint, and recently inspected septic system round out this smartly dressed slice of the American pie.

The deets: 3 bd, 2 ba, 1768 sf. Asking: $374,900. Days on market: 7. See the full listing here.

🎟️ WHAT’S HAPPENING

Note: Our full weekend roundup publishes on Thursday! Keep an eye on your inbox.

🏀 On Thursday, it’s the Siena Saints vs the Sacred Heart Pioneers at the MVP Arena On Sat, the Albany FireWolves take on Colorado Mammoth.

🕯️ On Friday, celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. at the Empire State Plaza.

🦉 Also Friday, learn how our feathered friends brave the cold at the Pine Bush Winter Bird Walk.

💘 It’s cuffing season, so get yourself to Metropolitan Matchmaker’s Monthly Happy Hour for Singles at Kindred in Saratoga on Friday.

☕️ Get motivated to stick with your New Year resolutions at the Coffee & Cardio Workout Party at Stacks Espresso in Troy.

🇰🇷 Wanna learn how to make Korean dishes like jjam bbong (spicy seafood noodle soup)? Sign up for this cooking class in Albany on Sat or Sun.

❄️ On Saturday, get to Grafton Lake for the annual Winter Fest, which includes a polar plunge, food trucks and horse-drawn wagon rides.

🧱 Bring the kids for this free Clay Play Day at Troy’s Context Collective.

🛍️ On Sunday, the Malta Flea Market returns to the Clifton Park Center Mall.

🧘‍♂️ Also on Sunday in Malta, Bend & Brew at Unified Beerworks is your chance to start the new year right with some downward dog and cold draft beer.

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