The buzz that has been building around potential downtown Albany development is about to become a roar.

Downtown Manager Aaron Blair confirmed Thursday that details are being worked out to bring a Waffle House restaurant and a new hotel to the 100 block of West Broad Avenue, part of a master plan that would dramatically change the look of the inner city.

“Plans for these projects are in various stages right now, but I’m very optimistic about them,” Blair said Thursday, a day after he talked about development plans with the Albany-Dougherty Inner City Authority board at its monthly meeting. “I don’t like to make any kind of official announcement until all the details are worked out and the contracts are signed, but I feel very positive about where we are right now with these projects.”

Blair said local Waffle House officials are already on board with the plan to locate a restaurant franchise on West Broad, but there are details to be worked out with officials at the familiar chain’s corporate offices. Waffle House recently opened a restaurant at 103 Gillionville Road, near Westover Road.

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