In Albany’s Medical District, a disconnect had emerged between where people worked and where they could realistically live. Despite its proximity to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital and downtown amenities, the surrounding neighborhood faced rising vacancy, population decline, and a shortage of move-in-ready housing.

Recognizing both the challenge and the opportunity, the City of Albany, GA partnered with Georgia Tech’s Center for Economic Development Research (CEDR) to develop a strategy for reinvestment.

Building on an initial rapid-response housing assessment, CEDR led a second-phase effort to develop a detailed, market-informed redevelopment plan. The goal was to transform an underutilized district into a walkable, mixed-income neighborhood aligned with workforce demand and long-term economic growth.

To turn that vision into a viable strategy, CEDR focused on understanding both existing market conditions and the housing needs of the district’s workforce.

The analysis revealed a key dynamic: while the residential population had declined, the area supported a daytime workforce of more than 4,400 employees, many of whom lacked access to housing options that matched their needs or income levels.

CEDR combined quantitative analysis with direct stakeholder engagement to refine these insights and ground them in local experience:

• Conducted parcel-level, market, and affordability analysis, including rents, home values, and employee salary data
• Facilitated focus groups and a 154-response survey to capture housing preferences among hospital and city employees
• Identified a mismatch between existing housing stock and actual demand, particularly for middle-class working households
• Evaluated prior plans, zoning conditions, and infrastructure constraints to align recommendations with ongoing efforts

Together, these findings shifted the focus from broad redevelopment concepts to targeted, achievable housing strategies.

The resulting plan provides a clear and actionable framework for redevelopment, equipping local partners with the guidance needed to move from analysis to implementation.

CEDR’s recommendations establish both near-term priorities and long-term direction:

• Defined development strategies for mixed-income housing, including single-family homes, townhomes, and “missing middle” typologies
• Established pricing targets aligned with workforce affordability, ensuring feasibility for local employees
• Recommended targeted incentive programs, including down payment assistance and employer-supported housing initiatives
• Identified design and infrastructure improvements to enhance walkability, safety, and neighborhood character
• Highlighted catalytic redevelopment sites to help initiate visible progress and encourage private investment

Taken together, these strategies reposition redevelopment as a coordinated, attainable effort—one that supports both neighborhood stabilization and broader economic goals.

This project illustrates how housing strategy can directly support economic development outcomes—particularly in communities anchored by major employers.

In Albany, aligning housing supply with workforce demand creates a pathway to reduce vacancy, attract new residents, and strengthen employer retention. The Medical District is no longer viewed solely as an area in decline, but as a strategic opportunity for reinvestment and growth.

More broadly, the approach provides a model for other communities seeking to leverage data, partnerships, and targeted planning to activate underutilized areas and support long-term development.

May, 2026 – Albany received more than $1 million investment to support infrastructure for 25 new housing lots near Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital