Final Pine Hills Land Authority member appointed

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) – NEWS10 is the first to report new updates on the former College of Saint Rose and what's next for the empty campus. Mayor Kathy Sheehan announced the final member of the Pine Hills Land Authority. 

Dannielle Melendez was appointed to the seven member authority. She is the president of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association and she’s been actively involved from the beginning.

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy appointed Consultant Dominic Mazza, Developer John Nirgro, Public Defender Alejandra Paulino, and Redevelopment Planner Alison Walsh to the authority.

Albany County Legislature Chair Joanne Cunningham named Community Non-Profit Leader Sarah Reginelli and Economic Development Consultant Jasmine Higgins to the authority. Melendez was the city of Albany’s sole pick.

“I waited to see what the county elections would be to ensure that we had representation from the Pine Hills neighborhood,” said Sheehan. “I’m really pleased with the decision-making and the breadth of the talent that they selected.”

Mayor Sheehan said appointing Melendez was important to her for one reason.

“I do live in the Pine Hills neighborhood and I am directly connected to our neighborhood,” said Melendez.

“And that was why Danielle was the ideal pick,” said Sheehan.

Melendez got her Masters in Business Administration from the College of Saint Rose. And as the president of the neighborhood association she’s been trying to ensure one thing.

“Transparency has always been an issue in this process and we are just working with the College of Saint Rose and most recently with JLL, their real estate advisors, to make sure we are at the table and that our voices are heard,” said Melendez.

She said those real estate advisors have communicated a desire to sell the buildings in bulk, but the reality is they may be sold one by one. Melendez said the land authority will have its first meeting soon to strategize what’s next. 

JLL Commercial Real Estate will start to accept bids in mid to late September.

The mayor said it’s important to build trust in the community so they can hit the ground running.

“We can build consensus and move quickly. We want to get these buildings reactivated as quickly as possible, if they do come into the possession of the authority,” said Sheehan.

If the Pine Hills Land Authority exercises its right to purchase the campus properties – and wins the bid – it will be responsible for the planning, development and operations of the facilities, as well as issuing bonds and collecting fees.

NEWS10 will continue to follow this story to bring you the latest.