Who We Are
The Albany Downtown Association, otherwise known as Downtown Albany, is a private, non-profit membership organization dedicated to Albany’s downtown revitalization.
Our mission is:
“Promote the heart, vitality and uniqueness of Downtown Albany’s historic buildings and business.”
Our expanded purpose is to:
- Promote downtown Albany as the heart of the community
- Strengthen the economic viability by encouraging business diversity
- Enhance the unique physical characteristics of historic downtown Albany
To achieve its objectives, Albany Downtown Association is coordinated by a full time executive director, a board of directors, staff, volunteer committees, business owners, property owners, residents and community leaders.
Albany Downtown Association also administers ParkWise, a parking management program for downtown.
What We’re Working On
Downtown Albany strives to be in-tune with the downtown community’s needs.
In the works are:
- A Streetscape Plan for both private and public spaces
- Business Recruitment
- Progressive Business Assistance
- Downtown Albany Facebook page
- Retail Shopping Guide
- Downtown Dining Guide
- Downtown Historic District Tours
- Business and Customer Surveys
Our Members
Active livable downtowns don’t just happen. It takes a comprehensive approach coupled with professional leadership and dedicated volunteers to ensure success. Our members have made an investment in Downtown Albany’s future. They help to make a downtown that we can be proud of, now and for generations to come.
The following members have made that commitment. If you are interested in becoming a member, please view our members page for more information including the benefits of membership, as well as our membership application form.
We’ve Done a Variety of Projects
The Albany Downtown Association serves the downtown businesses and residents through a comprehensive approach to revitalization.
Promotional activities also include co-op advertising, shopping maps, a downtown business directory and this promotional website.
- Promotion
Annual events produced by our Promotions Committee include sidewalk sales, Downtown Restaurant Week, Movies at Monteith, Halloween Trick-or-Treating, Downtown Unwrapped, Small Business Saturday, Free Holiday Movie and the Downtown Twice Around Holiday Parade and Community Tree Lighting Ceremony. We also partner with other organizations on Downtown events like the Wine Walk, Antiques in the Streets and Craft Brew Smackdown. - Strengthening Downtown
The Albany Downtown Association helps business owners with technical assistance and information through our Economic Development Comittee. Businesses have a voice at our quarterly merchant meetings. Other services include a monthly newsletter for members and workshops featuring retail experts. Downtown Albany co-sponsors a facade grant program with the City of Albany, advocates for downtown at the City Council and CARA and actively recruits new businesses. - Enhancement
Downtown Albany leads in beautifying. Our Design Committee oversees the Holiday Snowflake Project and the Summer Flower Basket Program. Other projects include way finding signs, on-street trash receptacles, public art, special cleanup days and parking lot landscape.
What We’ve Accomplished
Downtown Albany has had an impressive track record in revitalization for more than 30 years.
Our recent accomplishments include:
- Rehabilitating more than 20 buildings since 1999, representing over $5 million of public and private reinvestment.
- Encouraging upper floor development.
- Creation of an Economic Improvement District to ensure base funding for Downtown Albany.
- Increased community visibility through summer flower baskets and holiday snowflakes, and advocating for an upcoming streetscape project.
Our Board of Directors
The Albany Downtown Association’s Board of Directors works hard to make sure the program keeps true to its purpose while continuing to meet a variety of Downtown needs. The Board takes an active role in program planning and implementation, hosts Town Hall meetings, conducts membership drives and secures funding.
John Pascone | Liaison | Albany-Millersburg Economic Development Corp (AMEDC) | 435 1st Ave. W | |
Janet Steele | Liaison | Albany Area Chamber of Commerce | 435 1st Ave. W | |
Sharon Konopa | Liaison | City Council | 333 Broadalbin St SW | |
Rebecca Bond | Liaison | Albany Visitors Assoc. | 110 3rd Ave. S | |
Stephanie Gutierrez | Keller Williams Realty Mid-Willamette | 2125 Pacific Blvd SW | ||
Bob Moore | Treasurer | Willamette Community Bank | 333 SE Lyon St. | |
Matilda Novak | Novak's Hungarian Restaurant | 208 2nd Ave. SW | ||
Barbara Doolan | At Large | 5328 Ermine St. SE | ||
Christina Knowles | Secretary | Varitone Architecture & Interior Design | 231 SW 2nd Ave. | |
Rod Bigner | Vice President | The Pix Theatre | 321 2nd Ave. SW | |
Oscar Hult | President | The Natty Dresser | 425 1st Ave. W. | |
Julie Jackson | Republic Services | |||
Hannah Darling | At Large | 408 8th Ave. SW | ||
Travis North | Liaison | City of Albany-Planning | 333 Broadalbin St. SW Albany OR 97321 | |
Beth Lopes Walker | LaBelle Boutique | 337 1st Ave. W Albany, OR 97321 | ||
Seth Sherry | Liaison | City of Albany - CARA | 333 Broadalbin St. SW Albany OR 97321 | |
Sophie Dykast | Liaison | City of Albany - CARA | 333 Broadalbin St. SW Albany OR 97321 |