Albany Officials and Business Owners Look to Revitalize Lark Street
Jazz, cycling, and trivia are just a few of the activities that draw people to Lark Street in Albany. On Tuesday night, a discussion with police, housing officials, and support services providers gathered residents to discuss the street's future.
Amidst the city's $55 million deficit, Mayor Dorcey Applyrs has made public safety and resident services, including mental health support, a key part of her proposed budget, totaling approximately $257 million.
"I’ve been here for many years, and I remember Lark Street vibrant," said Stephen Giordano, commissioner of the Albany County Department of Mental Health. "This is the artsy part of the town. I still think of it that way."
The Lark Street Business Improvement District (BID) aims to restore the street's former glory through investments and programs.
"We have a number of programs that I mentioned tonight," Giordano continued. "Our mobile crisis team, our street psychiatry team, our motor team that we deploy in response to community need. Lark Street, we know, is one of the hot spots that we are trying to attend to and address people’s needs."