360 Sheridan Avenue - New Construction

City of Albany

The Albany County Land Bank is working with YouthBuild Albany and the SEAT (Social Enterprise and Training) Center to build a new home on a land bank-owned lot in Arbor Hill/West Hill. YouthBuild Albany is being supported by MLB Construction. This innovative partnership delivers a new, affordable home being built in one of Albany’s historic neighborhoods and marks a pivotal advancement in affordable housing construction, spearheaded by a groundbreaking partnership.

“The dream of homeownership should be in reach for anyone who desires it,” said Charles Touhey, Chair of the ACLB Board of Directors. “This innovative partnership is advancing a vision into a solution that weaves together so many key elements that puts this dream into reach – from community development to workforce development; from land availability to housing affordability.”

“In 2023, we were here with our partners to break ground on this community development effort that brings a new home to this historic neighborhood in a new way,” said Sean Maguire, ACLB Executive Director.

This new, affordable home prototype is being constructed on a small lot owned by the Albany County Land Bank. At 25 feet wide and 90 feet deep, it is smaller than typical buildable lots, however lots like this one are not uncommon in the historic neighborhoods of Albany County. Smaller lots are not uncommon for Albany County Land Bank which acquires them through tax-foreclosure to rehabilitate for new, productive uses. MLB Construction built the walls for this new home off-site, delivered them, and placed them on the new foundation. The SEAT Center’s YouthBuild Albany program is assembling the home and providing on-the-job workforce development training. Home HeadQuarters, Inc. has made a commitment to finance the future buyer.

The new prototype home will be a two-story single-family home that consists of three bedrooms and one full bathroom. At approximately 1,190 square feet, the 14-foot wide and 48-foot-deep home is designed to fit on smaller, narrower vacant lots while still providing adequate living space, functionality, and constructability. Upon completion, the home will be sold to a first-time homebuyer at an affordable price.