Senator Fahy, Coalition of 75+ Elected Officials, Labor Unions, Community Groups Urge State to Include Housing, Mixed-Use Development on Harriman Campus as Part of Wadsworth Labs Project

ALBANY, N.Y. – Today, New York State Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany) was joined by a coalition of more than 75 elected officials, labor unions, community groups, neighborhood associations, developers, and more in sending a letter to Governor Hochul urging the state to include mixed-use commercial, retail, and residential development on the Harriman State Office Campus as part of the state’s $1.7 billion Wadsworth Laboratory consolidation investment.

The full letter can be found here.

The letter details previous correspondence, public comment period, and concerns surrounding the final SEQR scoping document was issued that repeatedly ignores all public comments and letters submitted as part of this process.

“New York’s $1.7 billion Wadsworth Labs project is the largest state investment in the Harriman Campus since its construction and requiring that acres are set aside for housing and retail space ensures we’re harnessing the full potential of the project in the public’s interest,” said New York State Senator Patricia Fahy. “Our community agrees: redesignating a portion of the 27-acre Wadsworth Project to be used for mixed-use commercial, retail, and residential space will ensure that we’re maximizing the economic development potential of this project on what could now be considered Albany’s uptown ‘Parking Lot District’. Accordingly, this will not impact the footprint of the Wadsworth Lab design nor cause any delay and does not preclude our eagerness to see shovels in the ground as soon as this spring. Ensuring that we’re limiting the number of surface-level parking spaces, reserving dedicated space for new housing stock and small businesses, and reconnecting the Campus with the surrounding neighborhoods must be critical components of this project moving forward. I look forward to working with OGS, ESD, and more to ensure that we’re harnessing the full multiplier effects and potential as part of this transformative project.”

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