Group presentation on an urban planning issue.

1. Future possibilities of converting
the I-787 for the South End
Created by Ivan, Myles and Casey

2. About the South End
• The South End of Albany is located in the southernmost portion of
the City and encompasses a large area extending from roughly
empire state plaza to the southern city limits and from the Hudson
River and Interstate 787
• The South End is composed of 8 total neighbourhoods however, the
core of the South End is a triangle formed by Morton Avenue and
Lincoln Square in the north area, South Pearl Street in the East and
Third avenue

3. About the South End

4. About the South End
• When the South End was it it was described by many of the residents
as a “community of choice”
• It is in a desirable location near the state capitol which allows for
diversity and access to jobs
•The South End has many historic buildings, a walkable environment,
parks with open space and community gardens, as well as local
services

5. About the South End
• The South End/Groesbeckville Historic District encompasses
approximately 26 city blocks with residences and
commercial/residential buildings
• Historic District is not completely contained within the South End
• It is bounded roughly by Franklin street, Second Avenue, Elizabeth
Street, and Morton Avenue.

6. About the South End
• Despite these assets the neighbourhood has been hit by a weak
economic and housing market and is in need of revitalization. There is
a large number of older vacant residential buildings excess retail
space, a declining population and increasing concentrations of
poverty

7. South End Demographics
• The City of Albany’s largest age concentration is 20-24 year olds,
consisting of 15,684 people or 16% of the city’s total population of
97,856; with 37,635 people or 33.90% of residents falling between
20-39 years of age
Age Groups South End Percentage Of
Population
Albany Percentage Of
Population
0-19 1,433 29% 22,910 23.40%
20-39 1,671 33.90% 37,635 38.40%
40-59 1,305 26.60% 22,034 22.50%
60-79 449 9.10% 11,363 11.60%
80 and over 45 1.30% 3,914 4%
Total 4,923 100% 97,856 100%

8. South End Demographics
Street Name Vacant Buildings
Clinton 18
Broad 17
Alexander 15
Third 15
S Pearl 12
Fourth 11
Delaware 8
Second 8
Elizabeth 7
Stephen 6
Morton 6
Catherine 4
Teunis 4
Osborne 2
Eagle 2
Schuyler 1
Sloan 1
Cuyler 1
Total 138

9. South End Demographics
-South End is divided into 2
Census Tracts, 23 and 25
-In 2010 Poverty was
at 28 percent in the City of
Albany
Income And
Benefits (In 2010
Inflation Adjusted
Dollars
City of Albany Census Tract 23 Census Tract
25
Total Households 41,168 1,083 1,137
Less than $10,000 13.50% 7.90% 11.40%
$10,000 to 14,999 7.80% 16.80% 10.70%
15,000 to 24,999 12.20% 20.40% 21.60%
25,000 to 34,999 12.20% 9.40% 16.60%
35,000 to 49,999 14.20% 19.90% 15.90%
50,000 to 74,999 16.00% 9.90% 7.70%
75,000 to 99,999 10.20% 8.20% 2.80%
100,000 to
149,999
9.00% 7.40% 3.80%
150,00 or more 4.80 0.00% 1.30%
Median Household
income
39,158 26,823 22,412

10. South End Demographics
-There is an average of 2.2
people per household in South
End
-In the United States in a 2
person home income below
15,930 is considered to be in
poverty
-This would put approximately
26 percent of South End
residents in poverty
Income And
Benefits (In 2010
Inflation Adjusted
Dollars
City of Albany Census Tract 23 Census Tract
25
Total Households 41,168 1,083 1,137
Less than $10,000 13.50% 7.90% 11.40%
$10,000 to 14,999 7.80% 16.80% 10.70%
15,000 to 24,999 12.20% 20.40% 21.60%
25,000 to 34,999 12.20% 9.40% 16.60%
35,000 to 49,999 14.20% 19.90% 15.90%
50,000 to 74,999 16.00% 9.90% 7.70%
75,000 to 99,999 10.20% 8.20% 2.80%
100,000 to
149,999
9.00% 7.40% 3.80%
150,00 or more 4.80 0.00% 1.30%
Median Household
income
39,158 26,823 22,412

11. South End Demographics
-The majority of people in South End have
some college education
-Educational attainment in the South End and
the city of Albany are simmilar
-The national average for individuals with
a bachelors degree is 30% and 40% for
an associates degree.
Educational
Attainment
Percentage
No High School 6.6%
Some High School 19.9%
Some College 31.2%
Associates Degree 10.6%
Bachelors Degree 20%
Graduate Degree 11.7%
Educational
Attainment
Percentage
No High School 4.3%
Some High School 7.7%
Some College 19%
Associates Degree 8.1%
Bachelors Degree 19.2%
Graduate Degree 11.7%

12. Introduction and History of the I-787 Interstate
Highway
• 10.16 mile north to south auxiliary highway
• New York developed laws that promoted highways in CBDs
• Most Albany residents felt the highway limited pedestrians’ access
and generated various kinds of pollution along Hudson Waterfront

14. Transformation of the Waterfront
• As technology advanced industries moved away from waterfronts.
• Waterfronts left in extremely poor state
• Federal and state policies produced action from communities to
transform waterfronts

15. Solution #1: decking over highways
• Remove raised highway to build it below grade
• Increases air rights to allow more development or green spaces

16. Solution #2: converting highways to boulevards
• Mixed use development consisting of residents and businesses
• CNU’s favorite solution to highway overdevelopment/overcapacity
• Milwaukee’s Park East Freeway was stopped from immense public
opposition and National Environmental Protection Act
• Reclaimed area used form-based zoning code

17. Solution #3: Eliminating the Highway
• New York City, San Francisco and Portland eliminated some highways
running through their CBDs
• Portland closed Harbor Drive to build Tom McCall Waterfront Park
• Portland’s governor continued with waterfront park project despite
the opposition of experts

18. Visions for a New I-787
• Stakeholder’s Inc.’s volunteer project team also created two visions
incorporating the pillars of sustainability: social, environmental and
economic
• Eliminates the South Mall Arterial up to Empire State Plaza by the
adoption of a boulevard design
• I-787 would have two northbound/southbound routes and two local
routes (Water Street and Corning Street).

19. Visions for a New I-787 (continued)
• The existing cross-streets will reconnect with new boulevard
• Planted strip of land will separate new boulevard
•Includes a park promenade along Hudson River
• Albany high-speed rail station paralleling existing railway track along
Albany side of Hudson River

20. Questions discussed with South End
Neighborhood Association (SENA)
• What would be the potential impacts of burying the I-787 elevated
freeway below grade to the South End?
• How is burying the i787 going to have overall impacts on the traffic
flow in the south end?
• Do you think that converting the highway below-grade would be a
popular idea among local residents?

21. • Do you think that rebuilding the i787 as a boulevard would improve
real estate prospects throughout the South End? Please explain.
• Should this future boulevard replacing i787 also be designed for
bicycle traffic?
• Does your organization believe that subsidizing commuter highways
has a positive impact on the people in the South End?
• To solve Albany’s vast commuter-shed, do you think we should build
an array of highway networks?

22. Conclusion
• Stakeholders Inc. participants believe current form of I-787
hinders economic development opportunities.
• Most cities accept that the waterfront is where citizens use for
recreation, residence and commercial uses
• Organized community involvement is very important to sustain
this project.

23. -Cities consider removal of roads for maintenance and rebuilding
expense reasons
-Many North American cities have excess capacity to absorb urban
freeway traffic
-Rebuilding freeways is more expensive than replacing them with a
boulevard
-Many people still worried about freeway removal consequences
Conclusion

24. Thank You
Hopefully, with the higher levels of community support in the next
few years the discussion towards the 3 suggested alternatives to the
I-787 can be enhanced that will lead to a comprehensive solution