Albany

After years of planning interrupted by several reversals — including the small matter of a global economic meltdown — Albany's dreamed-of convention center is six months away from the start of construction.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced his approval of the new plan for a $66.5 million, 82,000-square-foot center at Eagle and Howard streets, uphill from the plot of land originally intended for a much larger $220 million center.

It's a project that's long been pushed by outgoing Mayor Jerry Jennings, who called Cuomo's decision the "right thing to do."

The 1.3-acre facility — with triple the size of any other convention center upstate — will be linked by footbridges to the redeveloped DeWitt Clinton Hotel at the top of State Street, as well as Empire State Plaza and the Times Union Center. An adjacent three-story parking garage will hold 250 spaces.

"Having those connections means it's going to benefit the whole city, and that's always been the goal," Jennings said.

Construction on the newly minted Albany Capital Center is set to begin in June. The administration said the project would create 157 permanent jobs and 114 construction jobs over the next two years.

In a statement, Cuomo said the convention center "has been a dream of the local community for more than a decade, and I am pleased to announce it will finally become a reality. ... When completed, the new Albany Capital Center will help transform the Capital Region into a top destination for major events and conferences, attracting visitors and growing the local economy."

The state Office of General Services will acquire the land previously earmarked for the development, located off Broadway between Hudson Avenue and the arterial that runs from I-787 to Empire State Plaza. The property, owned since 2009 by the Convention Center Authority, is valued at between $8 million and $10 million.

The development of the plot will be the subject of a future request for proposal set up by the Empire State Development Corp. As recently as last month, officials said they expected the convention center authority would handle the process and use the proceeds from any sale to fund the scaled-down center as well as renovations to the Times Union Center.

Mayor-elect Kathy Sheehan said the goal is to get the property developed and onto the city's property tax rolls.

She also said she will be working to ensure the project presents job opportunities for city residents.

More Information At a glance The first floor of the Albany Capital Center will have: A 6,300-square-foot pre-function space A 25,000-square-foot multipurpose room Administrative and storage spaces. A porte-cochere on Eagle Street The second floor will include: A 9,700-square-foot pre-function room A 9,000-square-foot meeting rooms A 10,000-square-foot junior ballroom A 3,500-square-foot kitchen. Source: Governor's office See More Collapse

"There is demand for additional meeting space downtown, and it's exciting that we will be having a new, modern facility," Sheehan said.

The state budget for the current fiscal year reappropriated $75 million for the convention center effort, although Cuomo predicated that continued support on the development of a plan for a less expensive design that wouldn't require additional state funds.

The 1.3-acre center is anticipated to make $2.1 million in annual stabilized revenue and $900,000 in annual fiscal benefits, the administration said.

Gavin Donohue, the Convention Center Authority chairman, said one of his major priorities is to make sure word gets out about the new convention center. "We need to market it in a way that when we open those doors, we already have events lined up," he said.

asanto@timesunion.com • 518-454-5008 • @alysiasanto