Construction has started on a major affordable housing project at the Selfridge and Langford Building on Central Avenue in Albany. The $18 million development will turn a long-vacant, four-story building into 49 affordable apartments for local residents, with units ranging from studios to two-bedrooms. The apartments will be available to individuals and families earning up to 80 percent of the area median income.
The Selfridge and Langford Building, located at 97 Central Avenue, was originally built in 1911 and served as the New York State Division of Parole office from 1982 until it was vacated in 2021. In 2024, the building was added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. Now, it is set for a complete interior renovation, including new walls, roofing, updated plumbing, masonry restoration, and the installation of energy-efficient, all-electric heating and cooling systems. Residents will have access to shared gathering spaces, a fitness room, and ground-floor commercial space for small businesses, according to NEWS10 ABC.
Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs said, “This project is exactly the kind of progress our city needs. We are taking a long-vacant building on a key corridor and turning it into affordable homes with opportunity for small businesses on the ground floor.” She noted that the project strengthens the neighborhood by providing needed housing and revitalizing the area…