ALBANY, N.Y. — Residents and local officials have expressed frustration and safety concerns over the stagnant construction of the Air Albany luxury apartment at 1211 Western Ave, near the University of Albany. The project was first approved as a dorm-style apartment for students in 2017, but has been abandoned for nearly three years, according to Tom Hoy, a member of the Albany Common Council.
“I don’t think it’s safe,” Wheely told CBS6. “As a parent, I try not to stay here with my kids.
The “Air Albany” website states that the gorgeous six-storey building “is coming in spring 2025.” CBS6 confirmed last month a construction permit has expired with an estimated $33 million project.
“The whole association, we’re totally tired of this here,” said Vincent Ligos, president of the Eagle Hill Neighborhood Association.
“It’s about town,” said Frank Commisso, Albany County Councilman for District 11. People who travel to Western Avenue every day when they see me, they say it’s a joke, it’s a joke, Frank what’s going on? And we don’t have an answer.
It’s been almost three years since it was abandoned,” councillor Tom Wheely told CBS6.
“We saw sporadic people coming and working. It looked like a lot of migrant workers. Ordinary construction workers were not doing their jobs. I was in the building. They didn’t even have stairs there. They used two stairs and made a ladder from them to climb the alcove.”
On top of concern, Hoey says the developers are building a structure that is too heavy for them to sit on the previous pond.
“When there was a pond here once and when they started pouring cement, it started sinking even more than they thought, and they had all sorts of problems,” Hoey added. “You can see it, the crack, it’s a completely wooden structure.”
If a fire occurs here, if there is no sprinkler system in it, this will rise like a Tinder Box.
Councillor Wheelie says the project was first approved in 2017 by the city’s planning committee. It was originally marketed as a dorm-style apartment at the University of Albany Student College.
“We met with the mayor and explained what was going on. She felt that the dorms at this location weren’t the perfect place for that,” Wheelie said. Councillors representing the city’s 15th district said the project’s developer, DMG Investments, repasted the project as a luxury apartment for seniors and young professionals. Construction began in 2020.
“The total cost we received from the city is nearly $15 million,” Hoey added. He says the funding comes from a mix of grants and tax cuts related to the Albany City Industrial Development Agency. Hoey says DMG Investments is an American branch of a Chinese company based in the Cayman Islands.
Albany County property records show that “DMG Investments LLC” is registered at 100 Wall St. in New York City. The company’s website also lists “Oden Albany” apartments on Washington Avenue as part of its portfolio.
“They also brought their partner Sahara Energy Company, who they purchased for $3 million in cash to the project,” Hoey said. “The Sahara is being investigated for money laundering, and they are on the British Human Island.
With the construction permit expired, Hoey says he hopes residents will rethink the plans for the city. “We want to beat the heights of the city. The biggest fire truck on the ladder in Albany can’t reach the roof, and if that’s the only way, it’s the front of the building.
“It’s not supposed to be a dormitory, but they advertise it as a dormitory. They sent me information that shows that Air Albany, which is now called, is advertising in the dormitory.
Vincent Rigos, chairman of the Eagle Hill Neighborhood Association, says residents have been fighting the project for eight years. “Multi, multi letters and emails were sent to town and they were all shunned,” Ligos said. “No one pays attention to EM, so this is what we have now.”
“There’s only one person to say whether it will be built or not, and he clearly wants this building here,” Ligos added, referring to Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.
CBS6 requested an interview with Mayor Kathy Sheehan and asked what is being done to address the situation of the project and the concerns of residents. Instead, he received a statement from staff member David Garin. The statement is fully read:
1211 Western Ave. receives two building permit extensions and has the most recent expiration date. The city’s policy is to extend building permits only twice, so owners of 1211 Western Ave. must reapply for plans and other related documents to the planning department. If the new plan deviates significantly from the original plan, the planning committee may need to review and approve the new plan. Additionally, owners must pay the latest stabilization and other unpaid local government fees before building owners can apply for a new building permit.
“No one is working on this project,” added Rigos. “Then go to the IDA to get a money review and keep in mind that they got 14 mils, they just give them money. No one comes out to see how bad this building is and they just give them money,” he said.
CBS6 requested an interview with the agency. A spokesperson said the IDA is “examining the project.” The spokesperson admitted the question and said he would return to us. We also requested an interview with DMG Investments. At the time of this publication, we have not responded. CBS6 continues to seek official comment from DMG Investments and will update as this story develops.
