Summary

Sheridan Hollow is a neighborhood located in a ravine adjacent to downtown Albany. Growth was slow in the Hollow and the neighborhood was populated through the centuries by a series of ethnic groups new to Albany, such as the Irish, Polish, and African Americans. It developed primarily with attached rowhouses with some industrial uses as well. As the population throughout Albany declined over time, so did Sheridan Hollow. While other neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown have had a mild renaissance, Sheridan Hollow has not followed suit. Many State and City workers park in Sheridan Hollow and walk up to Capitol Hill. Through the ReZone Albany process, Jason King, leading the Dover, Kohl & Partners Team, worked with the community to create a plan for future development and new zoning to encourage new development in the neighborhood.

The charrette was held in August 2017 and included interactive hands-on design sessions, technical meetings, an open design studio, and a work-in-progress presentation. Key goals for the community were laid out including: design better connections and gateways, encourage a mix of uses, provide a variety of housing options for a variety of people, create more usable open spaces, and improve health and safety. Together with the adoption of a form-based code for the area, the community has new tools to foster development and attract new residents to the neighborhood.