Mosaic South
(South End Cluster Co-Development)

City of Albany

Overview

In February 2020, the Albany County Land Bank (ACLB) issued a Request for Qualifications to identify co-development partners to redevelop for multiple sites in the South End neighborhood. At the time of the request for proposals in February 2020, ACLB was the owner of fifty-two (52) properties, in addition to four (4) properties designated to be transferred to it by the County of Albany. Another eighteen (18) properties were designated to be transferred to the ACLB by the City of Albany all located in the South End Neighborhood in or adjacent to a contiguous four-block area from Broad Street to Elizabeth Street and from Second Avenue to Third Avenue in the South End neighborhood.

In June 2020, the Land Bank selected MDG/TRC’s joint venture submission to redevelop 84 properties (78 vacant parcels and six vacant residences). The intent of this project is to create a mixed-use community that creates opportunity for existing residents of the neighborhood by creating quality affordable housing for persons of all incomes, providing opportunities for homeownership (including rent to own programs) and supporting retail or community-based uses.

After completing the planning and design phase, the project - the first and largest of the Land Bank’s proposed cluster development projects - brings together 63 properties by the Land Bank in the City of Albany with the expertise of developing vacant properties by MDG & TRC.  Through past and ongoing community outreach efforts and incorporating the community’s needs into the development, this project will include new construction for affordable rentals and homeownership opportunities.  The goal of this project is by stabilizing long-disinvested blocks, this new development will be a catalyst for additional community and economic development in the neighborhood.

Developer: Albany County Land Bank Corporation (ACLB), Toporovsky & Sons Realty Corporation (TRC) and MDG Design & Construction LLC (MDG)

Partners: City of Albany, Habitat for Humanity

Affordable Housing Phase

The first phase of this project involves the redevelopment of sixty-four (64) vacant and underutilized parcels, an aggregate total of approximately 2.9 acres in the City of Albany’s South End neighborhood. The redevelopment area includes scattered properties located on Broad Street, Clinton Street, South Pearl Street, Teunis Street, Second Avenue, Third Avenue, and Stephen Street. The end result of this phase will be the construction of sixty-two (62) new buildings with approximately 159,687 gross square feet of residential space, 1,674 gross square feet of commercial space, and 26,048 gross square feet of common areas and non-residential space. The residential space will provide 166 units of affordable housing. The residential units will serve income qualifying residents that fall between 50% and 80% of the area median income (AMI).

As of 2025, prior to the start of construction, the estimated costs of planning, development, acquisition, constriction, reconstruction and installation of this phase is approximately $97,371,504. Financing for this phase was completed and closed in December 2025. The properties for this project have been transferred to the developer and construction is anticipated to begin in 2026.

Homeownership Phase

The development team is working with partners to advance plans for the homeownership phase of this project. In this phase, four new townhomes will be constructed on Broad Street, between Alexander and Schuyler Streets, and five new townhomes will be constructed on Liebel Street between Leonard Street and Grandview Terrace.