Posted: Saturday, September 13, 2008 12:00 am
Albany youth sports park
The story: Albany has been planning for a large community park with youth sports field, primarily for soccer, for years. On Wednesday, as expected, the city council authorized the purchase of just under 27 acres of farm fields north of Ellingson Road and east of Lochner Road from Chad Curry for $1,247,344. Councilman Floyd Collins said the price amounted to about a dollar a square foot, much less than the price of more centrally located property.
The latest: Ed Hodney, director of parks and recreation, expects the purchase to be completed in two weeks. Designing the park and dealing with wetlands likely would take much of the next year. The timing of actual construction, however, is indefinite because a slowdown in home building has reduced the amount of park development fees received by the city. Albany's park development fee averages $2,100-$2,200 per new house. It is not collected on other construction. Hodney said the city will seek grants and other funding for the park.
Hasso Hering
Albany Petco
The story: Construction began for a new Albany Petco Store at 717 Geary St. behind the Jack In the Box early this spring. The 16,180-square-foot building will include two additional stores on its west end. Petco will be housed in a 13,245-square-foot section that dominates the structure.
The latest: Plans are for the Petco store to open on Oct. 20, according to Steve Preece of P&F Properties of the Northwest, a Portland-based development partner in the project. He said construction should be completed this month and the developers will hand over to Petco its portion of the building for completion. Tenants are still being sought for the two retail outlets that take up the remaining 2,943-square-feet. Preece said there were very few problems throughout construction of the $1.6 million facility, which he said is expected to employ about 30 people in the Petco store.
Steve Lathrop
Albany sweeping
The story: The city of Albany did not renew its street sweeping contract with Allied Waste after it ran out in June. The city suspended street sweeping for a while but resumed it - with its own sweeper and an operator on light duty because of an injury - in mid-August. The D-H had an inquiry from someone wondering why her street still had not been swept.
The latest: Albany intends to keep up the present operation until further notice. Streets are being swept on the same schedule previously worked out by Allied Waste - monthly in most areas, twice a month on selected streets, and weekly downtown. (Details at cityofalbany.net/about/sweep.php.) The public works staff has been checking how other cities handle this chore and plans to give the council a report on Oct. 6. Meanwhile, the city says it responds to calls when sweeping is necessary outside the regular schedule. Call public works operations at 917-7600.
Hasso Hering
Harrisburg well
The story: A city well was accidentally put in on private property more than a decade ago. The out-of-state land owner was recently made aware of the well, and now she wants back rent. The city made an offer to buy the property, but the offer was refused. The city began the condemnation process last month, when it had a specialist appraise the well.
The latest: City Manager Bruce Cleeton said Harrisburg is in a "holding pattern" until it is assigned a court date for condemnation proceedings. Cleeton said the city attorney estimates the court date will be scheduled for early 2009.
AnneMarie Knepper