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Albany County has purchased the former South End Grocery site on South Pearl Street in Albany, New York. The property, once a McDonald's, was converted into a grocery store aimed at providing healthy and affordable food to the local community. However, the store closed within a year due to financial difficulties, including missed mortgage payments shortly after its opening.
The purchase was made by the Advance Albany County Alliance, a quasi-government entity controlled by the county. The alliance plans to work with neighborhood leaders and community groups to determine the best use for the site. Kevin O'Connor, CEO of the Advance Albany County Alliance, emphasized the importance of ensuring the space benefits the South End community. "We are truly committed to the South End and our goal is to put something in this location that benefits the community directly," O'Connor stated to WNYT.
In March, the Albany County Legislature allocated $450,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act funds to facilitate the purchase. Most of this money will go to Broadview Federal Credit Union and Key Bank, which hold mortgages on the property. This marks the second time Albany County has invested public funds into the site. Previously, the county approved a $200,000 loan to the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region to purchase the property in 2021. The cultural center dissolved shortly after the grocery store closed.
The future of the site remains uncertain, but the alliance is committed to developing it in a way that meets the community's needs. The purchase is part of a broader effort by Albany County to revitalize key properties in the area, including the recent acquisition of the former College of Saint Rose campus by the Pine Hills Land Authority.