Downtown Albany

 Downtown Albany is the cultural, environmental, business, and entertainment hub of the Metropolitan area. Private/public development partnerships have reinvigorated the energy in downtown and have created opportunities for additional development.

The catalyst projects of Downtown Albany are the development of the Pretoria Fields Microbrewery on Pine Ave and the redevelopment of the historic Albany Heights building into residential lofts, or the Flats at 249.

When it comes to entertainment, there is something for everyone in Albany. Popular attractions include the Riverfront Walk which features the Ray Charles Plaza - a tribute to the Albany native and musical genius, the historic Bridge House, the Municipal Auditorium, Flint RiverQuarium and Turtle Grove Play Park. History buffs enjoy the Thronateeska Heritage Center which includes a planetarium, rail car display, science museum, and history museum, the Albany Museum of Art and the Albany Civil Rights Institute, where Martin Luther King Jr. spoke in 1961. With a plethora of buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, architecture lovers flock to Albany to see buildings including the Carnegie Library of Albany and the Albany Municipal Auditorium, a restored 1915 brick concert hall which is the site of live performances by the Albany Symphony Orchestra, Albany Ballet and the Grammy Signature Award winning Albany Chorale.