To the Editor:

Residents of McKownville and everyone who drives on Fuller Road will suffer if the city of Albany rezones Sandidge Way (formerly Loughlin Street).

Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Albany Common Councilman Mike O’Brien want the rezoning so that 11 single-family homes can be demolished to make way for Dawn Homes to build six four- and five-story apartments.  The current plan, which is in the process of being clarified, also involves poorly defined “accessories,” which will include small businesses.

This rezoning is alleged to raise revenue for Albany.  It is more likely to actually cost Albany money because of the need for additional services including, but not limited to, increased need for police, firefighters, school buses, and an increased number of children attending Albany schools.

Dawn Homes has repeatedly stated that it will apply for an abatement of taxes. The only beneficiaries from the proposed rezoning are Dawn Homes and Massry’s Tri-City Rentals that owns the Sandidge Way properties.  They will be the recipients of corporate welfare at the taxpayers’ expense.

People living on Warren, Mercer, and Providence streets can’t go anywhere at all without turning onto Fuller Road.  Fuller Road is already overburdened by the current traffic and will be moreso during the holiday shopping season.

The traffic from the proposed 175 apartments and 303 parking spaces as well as from the so-called “accessories” will make it much more difficult for all the people who drive on Fuller Road regardless of where they live.  It may also affect emergency vehicles.

When people are stuck in traffic on Fuller Road, I don’t believe they will be thinking kindly of the people who voted for the rezoning.

Carol Waterman

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Carol Waterman lives on Warren Street.