Albany, New York, Putting Finishing Touches on Comprehensive Zoning Reform

Jimmy Vielkind reports on a new zoning code in the city of Albany, New York. The new code was presented to the city's Common Council earlier this week, marking a culmination of the city's "the first comprehensive reboot of the rules governing land use in the capital in five decades." The new Unified Sustainable Development Ordinance, in the city's chosen nomenclature, as also been branded as ReZone Albany.

Vielkind examines the case study of Lark Street, located to the west of the State Capitol and Empire State Paza, "where residential and commercial uses collide on Lark Street and some business and restaurants operate as islands within residential blocks," as an example of the city's "hodgepodge" collection of zoning regulations. Thus Vielkind's lede proclaims: "New bars along Lark Street, a commercial strip popular with lawmakers and their employees, will be able to stay open until 2 a.m. and the Palais Royale can stay open until 4 a.m. for as long as it remains a bar…"

In a separate article, Joe Legault explains local concerns about the impacts of the new zoning code on Lark Street. Yet another article by Dominick Calsolaro opens up the discussion, and considers ReZone Albany as one tool the city hopes will keep the city's housing stock affordable.