Albany’s Downtown Development Authority chair pledges to boost audience participation

ALBANY – The Albany Downtown Development Authority got a bit of a surprise when its meeting opened on Tuesday: an audience. About 12 people turned out for the meeting, and some seemed disappointed that they were not allowed an opportunity to address the body, which promotes the downtown area.

“You were the first group coming out since COVID,” DDA Chair Evelyn Ross said. “We want to hear your ideas. I believe you will be amazed at the projects we have going on.”

It has been a few years since the authority has had participants wishing to address the organization, and that caused some initial confusion. Ultimately, the would-be speakers were advised that they would not be able to give remarks during the meeting.

For Tuesday’s meeting, the seven-member DDA had a quorum, including Ross, Emmett Griswold and Omar Salaam attending in person and Vinson Davis participating online. Ross said that accommodations would be made in the future to allow for the public to give input.

One of those who wished to address the board said she is interested in the future of the downtown area.

“Look at our downtown,” Diana Brown said during an interview after the conclusion of the meeting. “Look at our city as a whole, and you say you want to make (it) an attraction. What do we have here? Nothing. Downtown used to be booming.”

There are some good things downtown, including the Cornerstone Coffee + Co., the Flint restaurant and Pretoria Fields Brewing, Brown said. But, she said, more is needed to attract people, particularly college students, to the area.

“The students want things like this,” she said. “The more we get, the more we start building.”

During the meeting, Brown told the authority members that a sign-in sheet should be made available to allow audience members who wish to speak the opportunity to do so.

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]