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Construction has started on a major affordable housing project at the Selfridge and Langford Building on Central Avenue in Albany. The $18 million development will turn a long-vacant, four-story building into 49 affordable apartments for local residents, with units ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. The apartments will be available to individuals and families earning up to 80 percent of the area median income.
The Selfridge and Langford Building, located at 97 Central Avenue, was originally built in 1911 and served as the New York State Division of Parole office from 1982 until it was vacated in 2021. In 2024, the building was added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Now, it is set for a complete interior renovation, including new walls, roofing, updated plumbing, masonry restoration, and the installation of energy-efficient, all-electric heating and cooling systems. Residents will have access to shared gathering spaces, a fitness room, and ground-floor commercial space for small businesses, according to NEWS10 ABC.
Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs said, "This project is exactly the kind of progress our city needs. We are taking a long-vacant building on a key corridor and turning it into affordable homes with opportunity for small businesses on the ground floor." She noted that the project strengthens the neighborhood by providing needed housing and revitalizing the area.
Funding for the project includes $7.3 million from New York Homes and Community Renewal's Small Buildings Participation Loan Program, $4.2 million in federal and state Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits facilitated by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and a $5.3 million permanent loan from the Community Preservation Corporation.
The project is part of ongoing efforts in Albany to expand affordable housing and bring vacant buildings back into use. Construction is expected to continue through the coming months, with further updates as the project progresses. More information about recent and upcoming development projects in Albany can be found through the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and Capitalize Albany.