NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2006

Governor: Albany Convention Center Authority Selects Home for New $200 Million Complex

Convention Center Location Will Help Revitalize Capital City's Downtown, Spur Economic Development

Governor George E. Pataki today announced that the site for the new $200 million Albany Convention Center and Hotel Complex has been selected by the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA) Board. The new 225,000 total-square-foot convention center will be constructed within the "Broadway location" in the area surrounded by Broadway, Madison, State and South Pearl streets.

"Today's announcement represents another significant step forward in achieving our goal of creating a world-class Convention Center in Albany that will bring important new jobs and new business and economic development to downtown Albany and the entire Capital Region," Governor Pataki said. "I want to thank the members of the Albany Convention Center Authority who worked diligently to find the appropriate home for this multi-million dollar events complex, the Broadway location will help to greatly improve the area and together with our Albany plan, help further enhance our State's capital city."

Senate Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno said, "The Capital Region continues to grow as a destination for new businesses and economic development, and today's announcement is another positive step toward adding a convention center that will be an important component of our region. The location of a first-class convention center right here in Albany will create new jobs, provide additional opportunities to attract investment dollars, and continue the revitalization of the downtown area."

Senator Neil Breslin said, "Moving forward with our plans to build a world class convention center right in downtown Albany will be a huge boost for the economy of the entire Capital Region. New enterprises will bring new jobs and new investment into our community, benefiting both the business community and residents. This is very good news for Albany."

Assemblyman Ron Canestrari said, "This announcement represents a major step forward in the process to construct the Albany Convention Center. It is a credit to the leadership of both Governor Pataki and Mayor Jennings, and I am pleased to have played a role in this critical economic-development project for the City of Albany as well as the entire State of New York."

Assemblyman Jack McEneny said, "The question is not whether Albany, a modest-size city, needs a convention center, but whether our state's capital city and seat of government for 19 million people can properly function without adequate facilities. This new facility will make it possible for the larger conventions of labor unions, business groups and other organizations to meet in our capital city for the first time in memory."

Albany County Executive Mike Breslin said, "In just a few short months since the Authority members began meeting, much progress has been made. I commend them for their hard work as we announce the site that has been selected for the new convention center. In addition, I want to thank the State and County Legislatures as well as the Governor for their long time commitment to this important project. We have the commitment, the resources and now the site."

Mayor Jerry Jennings said, "The events leading to today's announcement began 10 years ago with the unveiling of our Capitalize Albany economic development strategy. It was a strategy that recognized that both the State and the City could benefit from a closer working relationship and I want to thank Governor Pataki for his steadfast commitment to moving this strategy forward and helping to make Albany a world-class Capital City - second to none. I also want to thank again Senator Bruno, Speaker Silver, our local State legislative delegation, County Executive Breslin, and the members of the Convention Center Authority for their efforts in bringing us to this day. The selection of this site is a major step forward to achieving our objectives of creating a more vibrant Capital City. It is the right place for the Center and I congratulate all involved in making this selection, including all of the members of the public who gave us their input."

In his 2004 State of the State Address, Governor Pataki made the creation of the Albany Convention Center a key regional priority, and worked with the Legislature to create the Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA) later that year.

The convention center builds upon work completed through a successful State-local partnership in downtown Albany that led to the construction of new offices for the State Comptroller, Department of Environmental Conservation, and State Dormitory Authority, and the rehabilitation of the Alfred E. Smith Building and the Palace Theatre. These offices have brought thousands of employees into downtown Albany.

In addition to the Broadway location which was chosen today, two other locations were under consideration for the new $200 million complex. The Albany Convention Center Authority reviewed an area located on State Street east of the State Capitol and an area located on the south end of the Empire State Plaza on Madison Avenue. The Albany Convention Center Authority (ACCA) site selection sub-committee chose the Broadway location because their review found that the site would provide the most cost-effective building solution, required minimal demolition, and would ultimately provide new amenities and enhanced public facilities for nearby residents.

Albany Convention Center Authority Board Chair George Leveille said, "Today marks a significant milestone for the development of the Albany Convention Center facility. We look forward to working with all of our stakeholders in developing an implementation plan that maximizes the economic development potential of the facility."

The Albany Convention Center Authority chose the Broadway location to help expedite the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. The Center will be located within the Broadway location which is bordered on the east by Broadway, on the south by Madison Avenue, on the north by State Street, and on the west by South Pearl Street. The center will not encompass the entire site.

The Complex will feature a $115 million convention center which will contain ballroom, meeting, exhibit, and support space within the almost 225,000 square foot facility. In addition, the new facility will also feature an $85 million 400 room hotel with parking capacity for 1,000 vehicles. Construction is scheduled to begin in Spring 2008.

Funding to support the development of the new $200 million Albany Convention Center and Hotel Complex includes the State's commitment of $75 million that the Governor included in his 2006-07 Executive Budget, and approximately $40 million that will be supported by revenue collected from the Albany County hotel occupancy tax for the Convention Center and $85 million in private sector investment.

The Albany Convention Center Authority is the lead agency responsible for site selection and the overall planning for the new Convention Center in Downtown Albany. The nine members of the Convention Center Authority board are comprised of three appointments by the Governor, one by the Senate, one by the Assembly, two by the Mayor of Albany and two by the Albany County Executive.

###

[Back] [Home]