Capitalize Albany Breaks Ground On Clinton Market Collective Construction

April 25, 2023

Clinton Square DRI Project to Reimagine Key City Gateway, Strengthen Neighborhood Connectivity, and Create Proving Ground for Pop Up Businesses, Events and Programming

View Press Release: Announcement By Governor Kathy Hochul

Capitalize Albany Corporation and Clinton Market Collective project partners broke ground at 11 Clinton Ave. today marking the start of Clinton Market Collective’s construction. The site is bordered by Clinton Avenue on the south, Broadway on the east, North Pearl Street on the west, and the Leo W. O’Brien Federal building on the north.

Following preliminary site prepatory work earlier this month, J.H. Maloy Construction will begin immediately with Clinton Market Collective Phase 1 construction work planned to be completed for the park’s opening in spring 2024. TW&A Construction Management, a New York State Women-Owned Business (WBE) is serving as the construction manager for the project.

The work underway will result in the redevelopment of 11 Clinton Ave., known as Federal Park – a former roadbed – into Clinton Market Collective — a new market concept and proving ground for startup businesses, diverse pop-up retail, installments by local artists, and signature events. Its completed redevelopment will create a welcoming vibrant space, enhance pedestrian connections, and anchor Clinton Square’s role as both an engaging destination and an introduction to the city’s unique local neighborhoods, arts and commercial venues.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Capitalize Albany Corporation (@capalbanycorp)

While construction is underway, Capitalize Albany is stepping into a vital fundraising stage to support bringing key site amenities to the space which are needed to activate the market concept. Additional funding is needed for creating semi-permanent vendor space in specialized shipping containers, a performance stage, outdoor seating and more. Capitalize Albany has packaged several highly-visible corporate sponsorship opportunities and is looking forward to connecting with potential partners. More information on partnership opportunities is available at www.CapitalizeAlbany.com/ClintonMarket.

The Corporation has already tapped into more than $3.5 million through local and state grants and has committed $300,000 itself to support the project. These final amenities are needed to maximize the site’s potential and will only be made possible with the additional support.

The design and construction of Clinton Market is made possible with support from the New York State Department of State as part of the City of Albany’s third-round $10 million NYS Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) award, Capitalize Albany Corporation, National Grid under its Urban Center/Commercial District Revitalization Program, Empire State Development Capital Grant funding as part of the Round 11 Regional Economic Development Councils Initiative and the City of Albany through its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding process. The project concept was developed by hundreds of stakeholders who participated in the Clinton Square DRI planning process and was designed by Schenectady-based landscape architecture firm PLACEAlliance.

Its premier location presents a distinct opportunity. When redeveloped this transformed park will strengthen a key gateway to the Capital City at the foot of the Skyway that already greets more than 20,000 people daily who arrive into downtown.

Clinton Market is set to complement the adjacent Skyway, the Capital Region’s first and only elevated linear park – a project similarly designed under sponsorship and management of Capitalize Albany with funding assistance under Regional Councils Initiative grant award from the New York State office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

Albany’s Clinton Square neighborhood was named a third-round DRI winner in September 2018. The City of Albany aims to make Clinton Square a welcoming, thriving gateway district and distinctive hub that connects and catalyzes activity downtown and in Albany’s warehouse district. This momentum will also impact the Arbor Hill and Sheridan Hollow neighborhood through public infrastructure enhancements, private project development and exciting arts and entertainment investments.

The Clinton Square DRI Plan’s identified priorities and awarded projects will benefit both visitors and residents through infill development, corridor enhancements, and targeted housing revitalization projects. Clinton Market Collective will strengthen the neighborhood and support the area’s natural landmarks and attractions, events and entertainment, and thriving arts scene. With the support of New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative and the Capital Region Economic Development Council, downtown Albany — and the Capital Region as a whole — is poised for unprecedented success.