Hope in the Hollow A Report on Opportunities for Planning and Redevelopment in Albany’s Sheridan Hollow Neighborhood A collaboration between the University at Albany and the Affordable Housing Partnership January 2017 1 Contents List of Figures .................................................................................................................. 4 List of Tables ................................................................................................................... 5 Acknowledgements & Special Thanks ............................................................................ 6 Project Introduction ......................................................................................................... 8 Team Research Objectives ........................................................................................ 12 Economic Development Team Objectives .............................................................. 12 Water & Infrastructure Team Objectives ................................................................. 12 Parks & Eco-District Team Objectives .................................................................... 12 Energy Team Objectives ........................................................................................ 12 Housing Team Objectives ....................................................................................... 12 Economic Development Strategies & Recommendations ............................................. 13 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 13 Overview of Sheridan Hollow’s Assets ....................................................................... 13 Planning and Development Trends ............................................................................ 13 Best Practices and Case Studies ............................................................................... 18 “Hope in The Hollow” Panel on Economic Development ........................................... 22 Recommendations ..................................................................................................... 23 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 32 Stormwater Management in The Hollow ....................................................................... 33 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 33 Methodology .............................................................................................................. 35 Strategies ................................................................................................................... 36 Green Infrastructure ................................................................................................... 37 Site-Specific Recommendations ................................................................................ 45 Alignment with Local Plans & Initiatives ..................................................................... 49 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 52 Building an Eco-District for Parks in The Hollow ........................................................... 54 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 54 Best Practices and Redevelopment Strategies .......................................................... 54 Strategic Sites ............................................................................................................ 57 Grants ........................................................................................................................ 67 2 Alternative Energy Options for The Hollow .................................................................... 71 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 71 Overview of Strategy .................................................................................................. 71 Background on Solar Energy in New York: ................................................................ 71 Sheridan Hollow: Energy Profile ................................................................................ 74 NYS Office of General Services, Solar Panels, & Streetlighting ................................ 75 Case Studies .............................................................................................................. 78 Solar PV Industry Growth and Workforce Opportunities ............................................ 84 Conclusion & Recommendations for Alternative Energy in The Hollow ..................... 86 Housing & Brownfield Redevelopment in The Hollow ................................................... 87 Background ................................................................................................................ 87 Housing Team Overview & Deliverables .................................................................... 88 Housing & Brownfield Redevelopment Goals ............................................................ 88 Current Housing Conditions & Trends ....................................................................... 89 Deliverable One: The Housing Condition Survey ....................................................... 91 Deliverable Two: Housing Opportunity & Rehab Brochure ........................................ 92 Deliverable Three: Recommendations for Further Analysis ....................................... 93 Project Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 100 Final Thoughts ......................................................................................................... 100 Team Recommendations ......................................................................................... 101 Bibliography ................................................................................................................ 104 Appendices ................................................................................................................. 114 Appendix A – Contacts ............................................................................................ 114 Appendix B – Grant References .............................................................................. 115 Appendix C – Literature on Green Infrastructure ..................................................... 121 Appendix D – Water Infrastructure Technical Tools and Resources ........................ 125 Appendix E – Sheridan Hollow Park Opinion Survey ............................................... 130 Appendix F – Glossary of Energy Terms ................................................................. 132 Appendix G – Housing Brochure .............................................................................. 135 Appendix H – Student Presentation (December 12, 2016) ...................................... 137 3 List of Figures Figure 1. Sheridan Hollow Aerial View [Intro] Figure 2. Land Use in Sheridan Hollow [Intro] Figure 3. Model of Place-making and Place-based Investment [Econ Dev] Figure 4. ANIZDA Funds Flow Chart [Econ Dev] Figure 5. Basic TIF Model [Econ Dev] Figure 6. Typical Legal Structure for Direct Investment in LIHTC-Financed Project [Econ Dev] Figure 7. Philadelphia Water Dept. - Curb Extension [Water] Figure 8. Curbside Stormwater Planter [Water] Figure 9. Rain Garden at the Ulster County of the Environment office in Kingston [Water] Figure 10. Vegetative Bioswale along sidewalk [Water] Figure 11. Grassy Depression Bioswale with Rocks [Water] Figure 12. Pervious Pavement Test by Pouring Water [Water] Figure 13. Habitat Housing along Sheridan Avenue [Water] Figure 14. Rain Barrel at Albany Pine Bush [Water] Figure 15. Tree Box Installation [Water] Figure 16. Schematic diagram of underground detention tank (On-site stormwater detention tank systems) [Water] Figure 17. Sheridan Hollow Potential GI Site Map [Water] Figure 18a. & 18b. Intersection of Sheridan Ave. and South Swan St [Water] Figure 19. Sheridan Park Pavilion-Stormwater Runoff [Water] Figure 20. OGS Parking Lot on Sheridan Ave below South Swan Street [Water] Figure 21. Vacant Lot with gravel surface located at the corner of Sheridan Ave and Spruce Street. Potential Green Space [Water] Figure 22. North Swan Street Park - GI Project. Photo Source [Water] Figure 23. GI Project located at Intersection of Quail Street and Elberon Place [Water] Figure 24. Sheridan Hollow Street Tree Rendering [Water] Figure 25. Dry and Wet Weather Conditions Comparison of Typical Urban CSO [Water] 4 Figure 26. Sheridan Hollow Parcels [Parks] Figure 27. Eco-District Parcels [Parks] Figure 28. Current State of the Community Walkway [Parks] Figure 29. Tile factory at 237 Sheridan Ave. [Parks] Figure 30. Current Conditions of the Park at 241 Sheridan Ave [Parks] Figure 31. Potential Development of the Park at 241 Sheridan Ave [Parks] Figure 32 – Two of the 288-294 Orange Street Sites Owned by the Albany County Land Bank [Parks] Figure 33. Current Conditions of 288-292 Orange Street [Parks] Figure 34. Potential Development of 288-292 Orange Street [Parks] Figure 35. Vacant Space Next to 255 Orange Street [Parks] Figure 36. Financial Burden of Energy Formula [Energy] Figure 37: