City of Albany scrambling to complete South Carroll Street apartment project

ALBANY – When the city of Albany broke ground at an east Albany apartment development in August 2024, there was celebration of a project that would provide housing, some of which would be dedicated for housing-insecure residents.

That celebration has fizzled as the site at 108 S. Carroll St. has been sitting abandoned with no progress for weeks, according to elected officials.

The city set a deadline of noon Thursday for the company developing the project to secure financing to complete the 32-unit complex.

“The developer apparently commenced construction before (securing) his funds other than the grant from the city,” Mayor Bo Dorough said. “The developer has a deadline to complete construction. If he doesn’t, then the city would have the right to foreclose and complete the project.”

So far, the city has expended $1.47 million of about $2 million in funding dedicated to the project.

There also have been reports of liens being placed on the property and contractors not being paid.

“The city is extremely concerned,” City Commissioner Chad Warbington said. “We have got to take immediate action to remedy the situation. You don’t want a building sitting vacant. It’s going to deteriorate fast. It’s known on the street that vendors and suppliers are owed money on the project.”

Several liens have been placed on the property, according to Dougherty County court records. Those include a $418,716 lien by Albany-based CE Construction of Georgia and a $41,000 lien field in March by Home Depot.

The development includes low-income housing and 13 units that were to be dedicated toward housing families most at risk for homelessness.

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, city officials had not given an update on the future of the project. The city will develop a plan to secure its completion, City Manager Terrell Jacobs said.