A landmark downtown Albany hotel is getting a new lease on life. Construction is set to begin this fall on a total remake of the old Dewitt Clinton. On Monday, Mayor Jerry Jennings helped take the wraps off a project he says goes hand-in-hand with other "revitalization" initiatives in downtown Albany, and would complement the proposed convention center, which would become the hotel's next-door-neighbor.
Jennings heaped praise upon Governor Andrew Cuomo for his willingness to work with the city of Albany on various improvement projects, especially this one. The state's Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund will pump $4 million into the project. Marriott will build a $48.5 million hotel, transforming the old DeWitt Clinton building into a modern tourist attraction.
Additional information from Governor Cuomo's office:
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the historic DeWitt Clinton Hotel in downtown Albany, which has sat vacant for years, will be transformed into a full service, 204-room Renaissance by Marriott Hotel. The $48 million redevelopment project, located just steps away from the State Capitol, will provide an economic boost for downtown, spurring investment and job creation along the State Street Corridor. The project is expected to result in more than 200 construction and hospitality jobs.
“Under this public-private partnership, we are transforming a long vacant property into an engine of economic growth in the Capital Region,” Governor Cuomo said. “This project will help create more than 200 jobs and continue our efforts to revitalize Downtown Albany. The new hotel will be a great asset in attracting visitors and new investment to the Capital Region, especially as the State works to increase tourism and bring new business to Upstate New York.”
Empire State Development (ESD), the State’s chief economic development agency, designated $4 million in funding through the Upstate Regional Blueprint Fund, to support this project. Built in 1927, the DeWitt Clinton Hotel was named after the former Governor of New York State. Although hotel operations ceased in 1975, over the last several years state and local government and the private sector worked hand-in-hand to revitalize the DeWitt Clinton as a hotel operation.
