City reviews plan for 30 new apartments in Albany

The proposed development would include three three-story apartment buildings along Periwinkle Creek.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 4:36am

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The city of Albany is reviewing a site plan for a new 30-unit apartment complex on a 1.47-acre property at 1433 Santiam Road SE. The plan calls for three three-story apartment buildings along the western property line, with 30 parking spaces bordering Periwinkle Creek, which runs through the site. Most of the apartments would have two bedrooms, with the rest being one-bedroom units.

Why it matters

Apartment projects like this require planning division review, while single-family homes usually do not. In recent years, growth in single-family dwellings has slightly outpaced new apartments being built in Albany, though the city has seen a mix of housing types added over the past 13 years.

The details

The property at 1433 Santiam Road SE was previously home to Owl Hoot Ornaments, a garden sculpture business that closed. The site is zoned for 'residential medium density' development, allowing for this type of multiple-dwelling project. The city will conduct a 'natural resource impact review' for the development's impact on the Periwinkle Creek riparian corridor. The applicant and property owner is Corey Bontrager of Albany.

  • The city's planning division gave public notice of the site plan review on April 2, 2026.
  • The property changed hands last year after the Owl Hoot Ornaments business closed.

The players

Corey Bontrager

The applicant and property owner for the proposed 30-unit apartment complex.

Johnathan Balkema

The Albany Building Official who compiled data on the city's housing growth over the past 13 years.

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What’s next

The city planning staff will be responsible for approving the site plan for the proposed apartment development.

The takeaway

This apartment project highlights the ongoing mix of housing development in Albany, with single-family homes and multi-unit projects both contributing to the city's growth in recent years. The review process for apartment complexes like this one helps ensure they are compatible with the surrounding area and address any potential environmental impacts.