CAPITAL

CAPITAL
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 1
Neighbors
O
CENTER SQUARE l HUDSON/PARK l MANSION l PARK SOUTH l WASHINGTON PARK
Fall
2008
Volume 14 Number 3, For Distribution Week of September 15, 2008
A N EWS PA P E R F O R A N D A B O U T A L BA N Y ’ S H I ST O R I C N E I G H B O R H O O D S
On December 7,
1908, ten blind people
gathered at the Hudson
Avenue home of the late
Frank Leslie Frost and
founded the Albany
Association of the Blind,
currently the Northeastern
Association of the Blind
at Albany (NABA). At
that inaugural meeting,
the ten chapter members
agreed that “idleness and
loneliness” were the two
major challenges facing
the visually handicapped.
Accordingly, the new
association cited its
purpose as “improving the
conditions of the blind.”
Frank Frost was
elected president of the
association, a post he
would hold for 38 years.
A graduate of Albany
Academy for Boys and
Cornell University, where
he studied engineering,
Frost lost sight in one of his
eyes in high school when
he was hit by a baseball.
After college, the vision
in his other eye gradually
deteriorated. Subsequently,
he began riding Albany’s
buses and trolleys each
morning in search of other
visually impaired residents
who might joint with him
in forming an association.
Once NABA was
formed, its initial meetings focused on a social
agenda—one young
woman shared that it
was the first time she had
been out of her home in
five months. But soon the
NABA Celebrates
100 Years of Service
By Brooke Newell,
Director of
Development &
Community Relations
State Commission for the
Blind provided personnel
to instruct the members to
“read and write the raised
point (Braille) and to use
methods and appliances
to enable them to readjust
themselves to their
conditions of life so as to
perform some industrial,
commercial, or domestic
work in order that they
may be self-supporting.”
(from the Association’s
1913 fund-raising
prospectus).
With the endorsement
of the Commission and
Thanks to Charlie Sullivan
Welcome Fran Brown
In early 1995, Charlie Sullivan and a few other
neighborhood stalwarts, gathered at the former
home of the Junior League (now the Metroland
Office) to discuss publishing a neighborhood
newspaper. That discussion lead to the creation of
Capital Neighbors (CN) which debuted its first issue
in the Spring of that year. Charlie secured the seed
funding from Albany Area Housing Opportunities
(AAHO) to print that first issue. He continued,
lo these many years, to secure funds from our
neighborhood associations, advertisers and via an
occasional grant in order for us to continue printing (remember, everything
else we do—e.g. writing, editing, layout—is done by volunteers). Charlie
also spent many an afternoon helping to deliver the paper to our advertisers
and other groups. Now Charlie is leaving CN to pursue other interests. We
thank Charlie for his long service.
As one door closes, another opens. Fran Brown,
a six year veteran of Hamilton Street has graciously
agreed to take on some of Charlie’s responsibilities.
Fran is a familiar face to many of our advertisers since
she is a devotee of downtown living and frequents
many of the businesses that our area has to offer.
And so, she has jumped in with the current issue.
So, be nice when Fran comes a callin’ for the next
one and pony up for Capital Neighbors. We thank
Fran for volunteering and look forward to a long and
rewarding relationship with her.
the State Federation
of the Blind, the
Association moved to
its first headquarters
at 105 Lancaster Street
on April 14, 1914. The
building contained office,
workshop and meeting
space; and so teaching
and craft activities began.
By 1916, the work of the
Association expanded
to include clients from
Schenectady and Troy, and
by 1922, the association
was serving Albany,
Rensselaer, Schenectady,
Schoharie and Greene
Counties. Vocational
training included sewing,
chair caning and typing.
In addition, field agents
were deployed to work
with clients in their homes,
teaching daily living
skills. The Association
also began to work with
other organizations in
seeking government
support for the prevention
of blindness. Monthly
social activities with
entertainment continued,
including an outing to
Rensselaer Park at which
many of the participants
received their first
automobile ride.
During World War I,
the Association provided
industrial work and
assistance for veterans
blinded in combat,
and members of the
Association knitted 1,063
pairs of socks distributed
to soldiers by the Red
Cross. The Association
also continued its work in
the areas of identifying
and treating vision loss,
instruction in reading and
writing Braille, in-home
instruction in orientation
and mobility, and serving
as a social center for the
blind membership.
In 1923, with more
than 100 members, a larger
building was necessary,
with space enough to
provide a retail shop. Thus,
with the help of more
than 4,500 contributors,
the Association was able
continued page 3
City Launches Major Effort to
Stifle Building Abandonment
M
By Sarah Reginelli, Senior Planner, City of Albany Department of Development and Planning
Mayor Gerald D. Jennings recently
launched the City of Albany’s newest
branch, the Division of Neighborhood
Revitalization, with the appointment
of its first Director, Judith Johnson. In
so doing, the Mayor has charged the
Division, a subsection of the Department
of Development and Planning headed
by Commissioner Michael Yevoli, with
addressing abandonment in the city by
developing a comprehensive strategy
for the stabilization and reuse of vacant
buildings.
In that regard, cities across the
country, but particularly in the Northeast,
are struggling with abandoned properties.
The risks they pose to a city’s quality
of life, safety and financial well-being
are thought to contribute to blight in
surrounding communities. The Mayor has
made abating these issues a major priority
for the city.
The decision to address abandonment
aggressively and strategically came
in June 2007 with the release of the
Mayor’s Capitalize Albany report. This
agenda-setting initiative’s Neighborhood
Revitalization committee called for a
progressive program for updating the
city’s community development programs.
Its recommendations included the creation
of a fund for strategic acquisition and land
banking of properties, incentive packages
for those wishing to purchase and
rehabilitate properties and a reconstitution
of the Albany HomeStore to make buying
and rehabilitating property in the city
easier and more attractive.
The pieces came together that
September when city staff was sent to the
National Vacant Properties Campaign’s
annual meeting. The staff brought back
best practices to tie the emerging strategy
together as well as strong relationships
with others working on the very same
issues in other communities.
In November 2007, the tragic loss of a
family’s home in the South End, due to the
condition of vacant buildings surrounding
it, clearly illustrated why tolerance of these
blighting public nuisances is unacceptable.
continued page 5
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 2
Neighborhood
&
News Notes
Capital
Neighbors
2007-08
Assoc.
Sponsors
Center Square
Neighborhood
Historic Albany
Foundation
Hudson/Park
Neighborhood
Mansion
Neighborhood
Washington Park
Neighborhood
Individual
Sponsors
Holly Katz
s!
k
n
a
Th anks!
Th
Hudson/Park
Hudson/Park is in the
process of determining
what priorities/issues
to pursue in the 200809 year. If you have any
ideas, feel free to share
them with the listerv
or with Roger Bearden,
H/PNA President, at
roger_bearden@yahoo.
com. At our October 15th
meeting, the Hudson/Park
NA is pleased to welcome
Albany County District
Attorney David Soares to
our general membership
meeting. All H/PNA
meetings are held the third
Wednesday of the month,
7:00 pm at the Israel AME
Church on Hamilton
Street.
Mansion
The Mansion
Neighborhood hosted its
3rd House and Garden Tour
on Sunday, September 7th,
on a glorious sunshinefilled day. Although wind
Editor’s Note
Opalka Appointed
City Historian
On May 1, 2008, Mayor Gerald D. Jennings
appointed Tony Opalka Albany City Historian.
Tony succeeds Virginia Bowers, a frequent
contributor to Capital Neighbors, who died
in December 2007. Fortunately, for us, Tony
has agreed to succeed
Virginia in that capacity,
as well.
As many of our
readers already know,
for more than 30 years,
Tony has played an
active role in historic
preservation issues in
Albany, primarily as an
avid volunteer and tour
guide for the Historic Albany Foundation and
other local historical groups.
Tony comes well prepared for his position
as City Historian. He earned a Master’s
degree in city planning at Cornell University.
Beginning in 1979, he has held key positions
with the Albany County Development program,
the city’s Historic Sites (now Resources)
Commission and Vulcan Development’s Arbor
Hill Redevelopment Project, a $13 million
public/private initiative that created nearly 250
residential and commercial units in 82 historic
buildings. Since 1988, he has worked for the
New York State Historic Preservation Office.
We’re pleased to welcome Tony aboard.
Capital Neighbors is published by the
Center Square, Hudson/Park, Mansion and
Washington Park Neighborhood Associations.
Circulation: 7,000 copies.
Editorial Committee: Leslie Moran, Tom Clark,
Tom McPheeters, Joyce Rambo, Stephanie
Richardson, Colleen Ryan. Production
Committee: Stephanie Richardson. Advertising
Sales: Fran Brown. Distribution: Mac Mowbray.
If you are interested in working on future
issues of Capital Neighbors, or would like to
make comments or suggestions, please contact
Capital Neighbors care of:
Capital Neighbors
e-mail: [email protected]
threatened to blow away
the ticket tent in Bleecker
Park and free the balloons
denoting tour sites,
approximately 250 visitors
got an opportunity to walk
through restored homes
and view a narrated slide
show presented by City
Historian Tony Opalka at
the former St. Anthony’s
Church, now the site of
Grand Street Community
Arts. The many residents
and friends who worked or
attended this event helped
make this a successful
fund-raiser for MNA’s
Bleecker Park and Historic
Albany Foundation.
Park South
The next scheduled
PSNA meetings will be
held on October 22nd at 7:00
pm. The meeting location
is at the new “Community
Room” located at 139 Knox
Street (once the office of
Ploof Real Estate). The
room has been provided
by Winn Development
for use by the Park South
neighborhood.
GSCA Update
This has been a summer of firsts for Grand Street
Community Arts (GSCA). Even if you were not aware
of what was going on inside St. Anthony’s this summer,
most people caught Boarded Up, our revolving art show
on the Madison Avenue side of the building. The show
ended in September, but you can review it on the Web site
and also obtain the book just published about the show.
Grand Street Community Arts added two new
summer programs for young people, with Youth FX
and Grand Street Kids Club joining the veteran Youth
Organics. All three broke new ground for us, and
brought a summer of learning and exploration to more
than fifty neighborhood kids.
Youth Film eXperience (Youth FX), a partnership
with Upstate Independents, the leading independent film
makers in the region, was a four-week introduction to
digital film-making led by veteran film makers. Junior
high-aged young people explored all aspects of film
making, from camerawork and lighting to script writing.
At the end of the program, the young filmmakers shot a
script that they had prepared and produced a ten-minute
film that will be shown locally this fall as well as a short
documentary on Youth Organics. One of the easiest ways
to keep up with us is on our Web site, www.grandarts.
org, where you can also sign up to read our monthly
e-mail newsletter. There is a lot more to explore on the
Web site, including the movie we made this summer and
the movie teaser.
Grand Street Kids Club was our first program using
the renovated St. Anthony’s as its main site. Twenty
youngsters from the immediate neighborhood got to
make art, learn some dance moves, sing songs and also
spend some of the warmer days at Lincoln Park Pool.
And last but not least, Youth Organics (YO) was
back for a third spring and summer with programs that
expose city kids to organic gardening, nutrition and
healthy cooking, as well as the basics of food security.
YO added a new element this year — the YO Garden
Share program, a variation on Community Supported
Agriculture. This venture into entrepreneurship was a
Support your
neighborhood
associations!
Center Square Association
P.O. Box 7134, Albany, NY 12224; 433-8011
e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.centersquare.org
President, Paul Fowler, [email protected]
Vice President, Ben Chi, [email protected]
Director of Community Outreach, Bob Serenka, [email protected]
Corresponding Secretary, Elise Van Allen, [email protected]
Recording Secretary, Kelly Bush, [email protected]
Treasurer, Dixie Hathaway, [email protected]
CSA meets at 7:00 pm every 3rd Thursday of the
month, Westminster Presbyterian Church, 85
Chestnut Street (except July, August and December).
Hudson/Park Neighborhood Association
P.O. Box 2313 - ESP, Albany, NY 12220; 894-7641
e-mail: [email protected]
President, Roger Bearden, [email protected]
Vice President, Ellen Picotte, [email protected]
Secretary, Bryan O’Malley-Marcou, [email protected]
Treasurer, Richard Brash, [email protected]
H/PNA meets at 7:00 pm every 3rd Wednesday of
the month, Israel AME Church, 381 Hamilton Street
(except July and August).
Mansion Neighborhood Association
1½ Elm Street, Albany, NY 12202; 432-5981
e-mail: [email protected]
Holly Katz, Chair, Board of Directors, [email protected]
Worth Gretter, Public Relations Chair, [email protected]
Park South Neighborhood Association
271 Myrtle Avenue, Albany NY 12210; 505-6439
e-mail: [email protected]
President, Andrew Harvey
Vice President, John Torres
Treasurer, Peter Rinne
Corresponding Secretary, Joe Galu
Recording Secretary, Brian Logan
PSNA meets 6-7 times per year, with notification,
at 139 Knox Street.
Washington Park Neighborhood Association
369½ State Street, Albany NY 12210; 433-0787
e-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.wpneighbors.org
President, Bill Pettit, [email protected]
First Vice President, Mic Lacey, [email protected]
Second Vice President, Mary Stoll, [email protected]
Secretary, Jackie Heitzman, [email protected]
Treasurer, Sallie Livingston, [email protected]
WPNA meets at 7:30 pm every 2nd Wednesday of the
month, First Presbyterian Church (Rose Room), State
and Willett streets.
success, with shareholders taking home delectable items
and providing our staff and crews with some real world
experience in marketing our produce. And there is
plenty to go around — just stop by on Thursday evenings
and check out the garden and take home some really
fresh veggies.
Meanwhile, work on St. Anthony’s is entering a new
phase. The work we have been doing under our state
grant is coming to a close and planning for the next two
phases is gathering steam. The $50,000 grant, under
the sponsorship of Assemblyman Jack McEneney, has
produced new water service and working bathrooms,
continued page 7
New Scotland Avenue Update
Things are really coming together!
Get ready to change the way you think about New
Scotland Avenue. From small-business investments to
multi-million dollar developments, New Scotland is
garnering a lot of interest.
Just two years after the city completed the Park South
Urban Renewal Plan (PSURP), two major projects are
transforming the neighborhood. Following the success of
the $14 million, fully tenanted residential project on Knox
Street, the City of Albany made a strategic move to tackle
New Scotland Avenue. New York State awarded the
city, in partnership with the Albany Local Development
Corporation, a $3.3 million Restore NY grant to construct
a mixed-use building at 16 New Scotland Avenue.
Columbia Development will construct this threestory retail and office building on the northeast corner
of New Scotland and Myrtle Avenues. It will house
a financial institution branch and a drugstore on the
ground floor. The upper floors will comprise roughly
35,000 square feet of new Class A office space. A
temporary parking lot across Morris Street, to the north,
will be a staging area for the construction of 16 New
Scotland. The lot, itself, will be developed as a mixed-use
building after 16 New Scotland is complete.
Once construction of this $26 million development
begins, Columbia will put in new sidewalks, trees, lights
and bike racks, thus improving the look and feel of New
By Sarah Reginelli
Scotland Avenue. This aesthetic treatment will result in
a continuous walkable corridor connecting Washington
Park to Albany Medical Center and University Heights.
Albany Medical Center (AMC) is also investing
heavily in this corridor and recently unveiled plans for a
$360 million hospital expansion on the southwest corner
of New Scotland and Myrtle Avenues. Further AMC
expansion will include a five-story office building (now
under construction at 22 New Scotland Avenue) to house
AMC administrative staff.
The buzz generated by these large-scale developments is inspiring smaller-scale private investment
as well. Most notable, perhaps, is the renaissance of
two longstanding local businesses. Quintessence,
the landmark 1940s Fodero diner at 11 New Scotland
Avenue, will reopen under new ownership in coming
months; and a new owner at 550 Madison Avenue,
formerly Ralph’s Tavern, will revive the historic property
overlooking Washington Park as a restaurant and bar.
These transformational projects, both large and
small, will act as catalysts for further development and
investment in Park South. And, much more is on the
horizon for this revitalizing neighborhood.
Read the Park South Urban Renewal Plan online at
www.albanyny.gov.
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 3
100 Years of Service
continued from page 1
Linette Stevens, above, sews in NABA’s
industrial workshop. The surrounding photos
illustrate NABA’s rich history of service
to the community.
to purchase, renovate and
move into a new space
at 208 State Street. The
new space provided 3,000
square feet of workshops,
showrooms with display
windows and a clubroom floor that included
a parlor, meeting room,
smoking room, rest rooms
and a kitchen. Dancing
was always one of the
favorite activities at the
State Street location, along
with bowling classes and
musical programs. Sales
of products made by blind
workers initially soared
following occupancy of the
State Street location, but
then the Depression forced
the Association to cut
salaries and expenses, and
to make an urgent appeal
to the public for funds.
Following World
War II, manufactured
items included towels,
washcloths, aprons,
oven mitts, baby bibs
and blankets, sheets and
pillow cases, ironing board
covers and pads, brooms,
leather moccasins, woven
rugs, clothespin bags,
belts, wallets, change
purses, toys, trays, diapers,
children’s clothes and
baskets. The Association’s
chair caning business also
flourished.
In 1958, the Association
entered an era of change
and growth by moving to
its current location at 301
Washington Avenue, a
four-story brick building
that had been the former
home of Don Allen
Chevrolet. Realizing that
workshops and industrial
training programs did not
meet the perceived needs
of all blind individuals, the
Association implemented
program changes that
emphasized social
casework and counseling.
Intensifying efforts
to offer a broader range
of services for people
with limited vision, the
Association established a
low vision clinic in 1968. In
that regard, Dr. Harry M.
Judge served as the clinic’s
ophthalmologist from its
founding until 1983. The
clinic, now known as the
Dr. Harry M. Judge Vision
Rehabilitation Center,
offers examinations and
prescribes low vision aids
and training for those who
are legally blind. In the
U.S., the criteria for legal
blindness are: visual acuity
of 20/200 or worse in the
better eye with corrective
lenses (20/200 means that
a person at 20 feet from an
eye chart can see what a
person with normal vision
can see at 200 feet); or
visual field restriction to
20 degrees diameter or less
(tunnel vision) in the better
eye. Today, orientation and
mobility training is offered
to clients in their home
environment, as well,
and can include adaptive
computer training and
other kinds of vocational
training, depending on
the client’s personal needs
and goals. Last year,
Dr. Monica Casey-Gee
dispensed more than 1,500
low vision devices, such
as prescription magnifiers
and specialty telescopes, to
NABA’s clients.
In the 1960s, retail
operations were phased
out and the retail store
finally closed in 1973,
because many of the items
manufactured at the
Association were being
mass produced elsewhere
for less money and thus
were available to the
public at lower prices.
However, the Association’s
manufacturing division
continues to produce a
large volume of items
under government
contracts. In fact, today
NABA is one of the
Capital Region’s largest
manufacturers, producing
a variety of safety vests,
Tyvek suits, and neck
tabs for women’s military
uniforms. These contracts
are negotiated through
Industries for the Blind
of New York State and
National Industries of the
Blind.
In 1977, the first service
programs for children
with vision impairments
began and continued to
grow rapidly through
the 1980s and 90s. Vision
problems are among the
most common affecting
premature babies. Because
of the advances in medical
care for such premature
babies, survival rates have
risen by a fifth in the last
decade. Today NABA
works with children of
all ages, at the agency’s
Washington Avenue
facility and throughout
the eleven counties of its
service area.
Vision problems
can lead to learning
difficulties and social
isolation for pre-school
children if not detected
and treated early. Through
its “Kidsight” program,
NABA provides free vision
screenings for children
in day care settings and
nursery schools. Using
a sophisticated MTI
photoscreener, which
can detect abnormalities
associated with vision loss,
NABA’s outreach specialist
takes a photo of the child’s
eyes. For young children
who may not yet know
the alphabet, or may be
pre-verbal, this method
provides an effective
alternative to conventional
screening using a wall
chart. Last year, more
than 2,000 children
were screened and 12
percent were referred to
an ophthalmologist for
further testing.
NABA also offers
a variety of programs
for students with vision
impairments. Thus, every
summer, teenagers with
vision loss are placed in
internships throughout the
Capital Region through
NABA’s “Work Experience
Training” program
(WET). As an incentive
to employers, the interns’
salaries are paid and adult
job coaches from NABA
shadow the interns.
In the last five
years, NABA’s summer
educational/recreational
program for children
ages 8-12 has grown
tremendously. NABA’s
vision rehabilitation
teachers work with these
children on a variety
of skills including: safe
cooking and eating
techniques, money
identification and note
taking. Throughout
every activity, skills
for independent daily
living are reinforced
such as following audio
cues, using public
transportation, utilizing
adaptive equipment,
following directions
with care and asking for
help when in doubt. The
main purpose of NABA’s
summer youth program,
according to Ann Gallaher
Sagaas, Co-Director of
Rehabilitation Services,
“is to demonstrate to
children with vision
impairments that they are
capable of doing anything
a child without vision
impairments can do; they
just have to do some things
differently.”
Bringing the kids into
NABA’s building allows
them to interact not only
with each other (students
integrated in their local
schools don’t often get the
opportunity to socialize
with other children with
vision loss), but also with
NABA’s legally blind
employees. Most of the
children do not have blind
adult role models in their
lives and NABA’s blind
employees demonstrate
that vision loss does not
necessarily limit a person’s
ability to live a full and
rewarding life.
As illustrated in the
foregoing, NABA has
experienced many changes
over its 100 year history,
mostly in response to
the changing needs of
people living with vision
impairments. Because of its
expanded role and wider
geographic coverage, the
Association was officially
reincorporated in 1979
as the Northeastern
Association of the Blind
at Albany, Inc. and
now provides service
to residents of Albany,
Columbia, Fulton,
Montgomery, Greene,
Rensselaer, Schenectady,
Schoharie, Warren,
Washington and Saratoga
Counties. Despite the
changes, NABA’s mission
continues in the tradition
of the original Association:
to assist blind and visually
impaired individuals in
achieving independence
and growth. In the
recent words of NABA
client Anne Carabis,
“After having macular
degeneration for twelve
years, NABA gave me my
independence back. With
their assistance, I began to
look ahead and not look
back! They’ve helped me
overcome so much!”
NABA is a 501(c)(3)
not for profit organization
and your contributions are
tax deductible. For more
information about NABA’s
services or about ways
to support NABA as a
donor or volunteer, please
call (518) 463-1211 or visit
www.naba-vision.org.
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 4
NEW
By Sharon DiLorenzo
Program Manager
Capital District
Community Gardens
In The
Neighborhood
By Leslie Moran
Nikki and This regular feature introduces new
Paul Powell neighbors in our Capital Neighbors
196 Jay Street catchment area. In this issue, we meet new
I
It’s Harvest Time
But don’t forget Fall maintenance!
It has been an interesting growing season in the Capital Region, and a very
busy year at Capital District Community Gardens. In that regard, we signed up
record numbers of community gardeners this Spring, filling plots in all of our 48
gardens including our three new sites that were developed just this year— the
Wabash Garden in Schenectady, Paul’s Place in Troy and the Sam Yanni Garden in
North Albany. As food and fuel prices continue to rise, we expect the demand for
garden plots also to increase. Thus, we are always seeking new parcels of vacant
land for cultivation, particularly in areas where we currently have no community
gardens
The weather also kept local gardeners on their toes, wondering what to expect
next during this growing season. May and early June were very dry, making it
a challenge to germinate seeds and keep young seedlings watered. But late June
brought some much-needed rain and then July brought too much rain, making
it the tenth wettest July on record! With all that rain came fungal diseases and
standing water in the gardens, which produced more mosquitoes than we’d
ever experienced in recent history. Accordingly, our staff members responded
to hundreds of questions from frustrated gardeners about tomato blight and
powdery mildew. But then August brought much-needed relief in the form of blue
skies and sunshine. Gardens dried out and our sad looking tomato plants finally
starting producing some tasty treats.
Now, it’s September and the days are already noticeably shorter. Our gardens
are in peak production and we are all enjoying the fresh, delicious bounty. But
we northeasterners know that the season is winding down and our gardens will
soon be blanketed in snow (well, hopefully not too soon). But before that happens,
a thorough garden Fall clean-up is critically important to a healthy plot next
year. Thus, gardeners must remove all diseased plant debris from the garden,
especially tomato and squash vines. Do not compost them! Black plastic mulch
should be taken up and all items like buckets, pots and stakes should be put away
for the Winter. Anything left out in the garden provides a nice comfy shelter for
over-wintering pests.
Fall is also a great time to enrich your garden soil, and nature provides us
with an abundance of free material: leaves. Cover your soil with a nice layer of
leaves and then add compost to keep them from blowing away. Leaves break
down quickly adding important organic matter that helps improve soil texture
and provides nutrients. And they’re free! So take advantage of this gift from
Mother Nature.
Capital District Community Gardens
40 River Street / Troy, NY 12180
518-274-8685 / [email protected]
W
neighbors in Center Square. If you are new
in the neighborhood, or know someone who
is, please write Capital Neighbors (at
[email protected]) and tell us
about our new neighbors.
“We loved Brooklyn and the
feel of Brooklyn, and we missed it
a lot in Rochester,” Nikki Powell
explains about their decision
to look for and buy a house in
downtown Albany.
Nikki and Paul came to Albany
—via Rochester and Brooklyn
before that—and bought their first
house in Center Square in June.
Paul is spending this school
year getting Troy Prep, a new
Uncommon Schools middle
school, ready to open in 2009.
(Uncommon Schools, Inc. is a
nonprofit organization that starts
and manages urban charter
public schools that seek to close
the achievement gap for students
and prepare them to attend
and graduate from college. The
organization currently operates ten
schools throughout the New York
metropolitan area, Rochester and
New Jersey.) Nikki shares Paul’s
commitment to education. She
teaches 4th grade English Language
Arts at Albany’s Brighter Choice
School for Boys.
“When we moved here, we
knew it would be for awhile,” says
Nikki. Looking around the area,
she adds, “This area reminded us
of what we missed [in Brooklyn].
But we couldn’t even fathom
having something like this in
Brooklyn.”
Paul echoes the sentiment.
“We’re so happy we found here,”
he says.
Both Paul and Nikki say they
love the sense of community in
the neighborhood, noting that
neighbors have been extremely
friendly and helpful. “We had a
small flood problem following a
storm shortly after we moved in,”
explains Paul, “and people were
great. They helped with plumbers
and just everything. We wouldn’t
have known where to start.”
In addition to the network of
neighbors, they like being close to
almost everything. In that regard,
they enjoy being able to walk to
restaurants, shops and the park
with their Boston Terrier Watts.
If there’s any complaint, it’s
the supermarkets. “We love to
cook,” Nikki says, “we’ve been
disappointed by the supermarkets
here.” They miss Rochester’s
Wegman’s, though Paul notes,
“The farmers’ markets here are
really good, especially the Troy
farmers’ market.”
While having some trepidation
about navigating their first
Albany winter, Paul and Nikki are
embracing their new downtown
neighborhood, looking forward
to getting to know more of their
neighbors and to exploring more
as yet undiscovered treasures.
Fight the Draft!
Old wooden windows in our historic homes can make it seem like we’re heating
the outside. Fortunately, with some basic maintenance and winter weather tips,
homeowners can protect their buildings’ character while lowering their utility
costs. As you will see, properly maintained wood windows might just be the best
way to go green and save green!
Basic Maintenance
• Keep the exterior surfaces
painted, including the
glazing putty. Paint protects
the wood and putty from
water and extends service
life. Be especially attentive
to horizontal surfaces where
water may collect.
Because most of the heat transfer
occurs around the perimeter of the
sash rather than through the glass,
the tighter the seal around the
window and between the upper and
lower sash, the more energy efficient
the window will be.
• Check the lock. Most people
think the sash lock is primarily for
security. It does help with security,
but the lock’s most important job
is to ensure that the meeting rails
are held tightly together. A tight fit
greatly reduces air infiltration.
• Glazing putty will eventually
dry out and is meant to be
replaced periodically. You can
do spot repairs initially, but
eventually it will be easier to
re-glaze the whole sash.
• Keep movable surfaces, such
as the inside jamb, free of
paint build-up so that the
sash can slide freely.
Winter Tips
Kim and Jack Alvarez show
homeowners how to weatherize
their existing windows at a
workshop sponsored by Historic
Albany Foundation.
• Weather stripping. Add it
or renew it. Adding weather
stripping to your window can
increase the window’s efficiency by as much as 50%. As such, it’s an inexpensive
way to boost your window’s efficiency.
Air infiltration points for
existing homes. U.S. Department
of
• If your sashes are hung with cord, keep the rope free of paint. This will improve
the window’s operability. Cord will eventually dry out and break but can be
replaced. When replacing the cord you can also re-hang the weights so that the
sash will be balanced.
• Storm windows. Use them! There are many styles from which to choose,
including storms that can be fitted on the interior of the window. Many
studies have shown that a wood window, in good condition, fitted with a
storm window can be just as energy-efficient as a more expensive replacement
window. There is also a growing interest in traditional wood-framed storm
windows as they transfer less heat than metal-framed storms.
Maintenance and winter tips from the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Tip Sheet
on Historic Wood Windows, published June 2008.
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 5
Revitalization
Later that month, the Mayor joined with
his Chief of Police, James Tuffey, New York
State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo
and Albany County District Attorney
David Soares to announce a series of
programs targeting the abatement of
abandonment issues.
Accordingly, the Mayor unveiled
the city’s Division of Neighborhood
Revitalization and Operation Block by
Block. These two programs, headed by
Commissioner Yevoli and Chief Tuffey
respectively, are working collaboratively
with other city departments and programs
to provide solutions to abandonment.
In order to truly combat the problem
from all angles, the city has developed
legislation and programming to address
standards for maintenance, penalties
for abandonment and incentives for
rehabilitation. The Division’s role in
this comprehensive strategy is clear
when understood in relation to Block
by Block, general city code, the Vacant
Building Registry and Vacant Building
Court. Together, these major components
form the city’s abandonment abatement
initiative.
Chapter 133 of the City of Albany’s
general legislation allows the city to
repair or demolish a property when such
property is deemed unsafe for any reason.
This piece of legislation also permits
the Department of General Services and
the Department of Buildings and Codes
to bring abandoned properties into
compliance with maintenance standards
after proper notice to the owners. If the
owner doesn’t comply in a timely manner,
this work is then completed by the city
and billed to the owner or added as a
tax lien on the property if the bill is left
unpaid.
Block by Block uses the city code
to systematically assess defined zones
or neighborhoods within the city.
Starting with blocks that have the
highest instances of crime and blight,
representatives from all city departments
review the code compliance of every
building in such zones. Owners are
cited for non-compliance and violations
are rectified. The Block by Block team
handles everything from litter and noise
complaints to broken street lights and
abandoned buildings.
So far, the team has seen major success
in its efforts in Zone One, a portion of the
city’s midtown area. Numerous violations
were found and remedied, and the streets
in the area are looking better. A detailed
report of the findings and implications
of that effort will be made available in
upcoming months.
The most direct way Block by Block
deals with abandoned properties is to
cite owners for non-compliance with
the Vacant Building Registry. Created in
2000 and updated in 2008, the registry
requires all owners to submit a form for
each of their vacant properties outlining
their plans for the property and supplying
photos of the building, full contact
information and the name of a local
agent who acts on the owner’s behalf in
the event of an emergency. The fee for
the registry increases for every year the
property is left vacant. This national best
practice penalizes owners who allow their
buildings to deteriorate over several years,
while providing relief to new owners
working to bring the buildings back.
In the fall of 2006, Albany’s
Department of Fire, Emergency and
Building Services canvassed the City to
locate and inspect abandoned properties.
While some will inevitably be lost due to
the extent of the damage already done and
the public safety risk that such damage
poses, the Mayor has made it a priority to
see that as many as possible of the roughly
900 abandoned properties is registered
and rehabilitated.
To do this, Codes officers are citing
the owners of the buildings listed in the
frequently-updated report and found
through Block by Block. If these owners
By Mac Mowbray
from page 1
do not register their buildings, they are
summoned to appear before the city’s
Vacant Building Court. This court, headed
by Judge Gary F. Stiglmeier, was created
in December 2007 to handle vacant
building cases exclusively.
This strategy has yielded tremendous
results in other cities, and is one Albany’s
largest successes so far. Since its inception,
the court has garnered more than $14,000
in fines and fees and has registered more
than 40 buildings. These figures do not
include those owners who received a
summons and registered their buildings
only after a court date was to be set.
One of the most positive aspects of
this court is its individual attention to
each case. Before going before the judge,
each defendant meets with representatives
from various city agencies to ensure
that each understands the requirements
of the registry and to determine if they
qualify for any incentives. Because
Judge Stiglmeier hears every case, he
can be more lenient with those who have
legitimate hardships and penalize more
heavily those simply choosing to leave
their properties in blighted condition.
With these tools in place for
identifying, registering and penalizing
abandonment, the Division of
Neighborhood Revitalization provides
the programs for reuse of the properties.
Perhaps the best way to think about it is
that the tools referenced above focus on
“how to make the properties safe” while
the Division focuses on “how to bring
these buildings back.”
In so doing, the Division’s mission is
to redesign existing planning, community
and economic development programs and
resources to strategically address systemic
blighting issues facing the city. Its focus,
then, will be on abating the abandoned
building problem, “greening” vacant lots,
increasing homeownership and assisting
with neighborhood plans.
Several major functions are
incorporated into its programming. These
begin with the creation and utilization
of a strategic acquisition fund and land
bank. If you ask any abandoned building
specialists what the most important piece
of solving the abandonment problem is,
they will agree that having control of the
property(ies) is the first priority. With this
in mind, the Division created a funding
pool reserved for purchasing strategicallylocated abandoned properties with an
injection of $500,000 from the City of
Albany Industrial Development Agency
and commitments from Community
Development Block Grants. The properties
acquired will then be held, owned and
managed by a newly-created land bank.
The key to the land bank’s success
is the development of a strategic
plan for each property it holds. Each
such plan will be an element of the
Division’s comprehensive disposition
strategy. This strategy will employ a
team of reviewers spanning several
city departments. Their task will be
to assess the condition, historic value,
marketability and appropriate use for
each of the city’s abandoned properties.
With this assessment in mind, the
properties will be assigned to one of five
categories: stabilization, repair and resell, receivership, packaging with other
properties for development, or, in extreme
cases, demolition.
Accordingly, to help market these
properties, the Division will reconstitute
the Albany HomeStore. The HomeStore
will provide incentives, information,
guidance, marketing and partnerships
with the lending and home-buying
communities to offer potential buyers
a one-stop shopping experience
culminating in homeownership in
the City of Albany. In that regard, the
HomeStore will promote homeownership
citywide, which helps to prevent
abandonment, while other efforts will
target abandoned properties directly.
continued page 7
Parts
Warehouse
The Parts
Warehouse is
located at:
89 Lexington
Avenue, 465-2987
Hours:
Wednesday–
Friday, noon to
5:00 pm;
Saturday, 9:00
am to 5:00 pm
Be the first on
your block to start a
winter(indoor)project!
W
Well, it seems a long time since our last report, but here we are
again with lots of new (old) stuff for your historic house or the
modern house that’s in need of a touch of the past.
We’ll start in the kitchen (which is my favorite room anyway).
There is a 1950s mangle—you don’t know what that is, well stay
tuned and you’ll find out. Before the days of no-iron sheets and
tablecloths, the lady of the house (no house husbands either) had to
iron the linens. If she was smart, she convinced her husband that
she needed a mangle. (It’s really just an electric iron.) Come in and
see it. We’ve sold a few in the past, so you might like it. Right next
to the mangle is a 1920s apartment-size stove with the oven on top
and storage on the bottom. Just right for that small camp or garage.
If you buy that stove or mangle, we have a huge iron-wheeled
cart that you can buy for $200 and make moving your other items
easier. If you like something more modern, there’s always the blue
1950s General Electric kitchen, late of Willett Street. Next on our list
of kitchen stuff, we have a 1920s combination gas stove and heater:
ideal for that camp, basement or garage. We also have one from the
late 1940s. These have been reduced to $150 for quick sale. For the
first time in many moons, we have an ice box from the 1930s for
$75. Remember I said “ice box” not refrigerator. You have to put a
great big ice cube in this baby! And it needs work. We also have the
bottom half of the famous Hoosier cabinet. Needs a little work, and
you could have a carpenter build the top portion for you.
At last, we are out of the kitchen, but we are still going to be
warm, courtesy of a parlor stove for $150. Slightly unsual it boasts
six pair of wood door knobs, early 20th century, maybe late 1890s.
Also we have a good stock of the Bennington knobs. These are
the black glazed ceramic ones (brick) that have nice brass keyhole
plates. We also have a few very nice built-in style cast iron tubs and
a few very nice toilets from various eras. In addition, we have a few
slate painted mantles from the 8th Street, RPI salvage.
Also, from that salvage, we have a round-top chestnut door and
a pair of chestnut pocket doors with frames for $1,500. These are
really fine. Also, from the same buildings (1870s) we have quite a
few of the 4 panel chestnut doors. Most have never been painted.
From Our Lady of Angels School we have some solid oak closet
doors, flush panel which could be used as a table top, bar or shelves
for only $10 each. In that back corner of the warehouse, you will
find quite a collection of wooden mantles of various styles, ranging
from $75 to $150. And we still have an unusual number of marble
sink tops. Most of these have no bowls, but they can be ordered
from replacement catalogues.
We also have a substantial collection of shutters from a more
modern era. We have a green and a yellow toilet set (no one will
have one of those, I’ll bet) with tiles to match, I think. Lastly we
have solid wood drawers which can be used as boxes or built into a
storage chest for the garage or basement.
That’s right! It’s time to wrap up those Summer outdoor projects.
The interior of your old house is beckoning you. Call us if you need
something not listed here.
The Parts Warehouse hours:
Wednesday–Friday, noon to 5:00 pm; Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
For all your Parts Warehouse
needs, contact:
Mark Brogna
Manager
Historic Albany Foundation
Architectual Parts Warehouse
89 Lexington Avenue
465-2987
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 6
Capital Happenings
This is just a small sampling of arts and cultural events happening
in and around our neighborhood this fall. Please contact the
sponsoring organization for more information and complete
schedules regarding individual activities.
Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau
25 Quackenbush Square; 434-1217; www.albany.org
The Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center and Henry
Hudson Planetarium are located at the corner of Broadway
and Clinton Avenue. Free parking is available in the Visitors’
Center parking lot, adjacent to Quackenbush Square (off
Broadway via Spencer Street).
• Albany Aquaducks, through November 2. Adults $26 /
Seniors/Military $24 / Children 4-12 $15 / Infant (0-3)
seated on adult’s lap, free. For tour schedules, contact
Albany Aqua Ducks at 518-462-DUCK (462-3825).
• Special Events depart from Visitors’ Center, reservations
suggested, Adults $30/Seniors $28. Smoke on the Water,
Fire in the Sky; October 2 – 8:00 pm. A mysterious night
aboard the Albany Aqua Duck. Famous fires in Albany’s
past, songs, and trivia will make this tour one hot event.
Our famous SPLASHDOWN may cool you off, but a
special presentation on the water will certainly heat up the
night. Ghost Hunting in Historic Downtown, October
16 and 30 – 7:00 pm. Board the Trolley to find out what
really happened to Henry Hudson in the year 1611, who is
buried in the foyer of St. Peter’s Church, what happened
to the remains of 20,000 people once buried in Washington
Park, and whose ghost is lurking on the forth floor of the
New York State Capitol. Ghostly delights will be served
while on the Trolley and there will be a special treat for
those who arrive in costume!
Albany County Historical Association
Ten Broeck Mansion, 9 Ten Broeck Place; 436-9826;
www.tenbroeckmansion.org
The 209-year-old Ten Broeck Mansion is the headquarters
of the Albany County Historical Association – ACHA – a
non-profit state-chartered organization that helps preserve
and explain the history and heritage of New York’s Capital
Region.
• Genealogy Workshop by Amy Buseck, October 2, 6:00
pm. $10.
• Hudson Valley Ruins lecture by co-author, Robert J.
Yasinsac, November 15, 2:00 pm.
• Fashion Show by FANCY SCHMANCY, November 16,
1:30 pm. $10.
• Holiday House at the Ten Broeck Mansion. The
Albany County Historical Society invites you to enjoy
the historic Ten Broeck Mansion in its holiday grandeur
during a month-long Holiday House – the ACHA’s
major fundraiser for preserving the mansion and to bring
Albany County history to life for all ages. Champagne
Preview Party, December 4, 5:30 – 8:30 pm. A special
preview of the Mansion’s gracious rooms and halls
beautifully decorated for the holidays by community
volunteers. Enjoy a light champagne reception catered by
Classé Catering, a Silent Auction, Holiday Gift Shop and a
visit from Sinterklaas. $60, prepaid, reservations required.
Holiday Tea at Ten Broeck Mansion, December 5, 2:00 –
4:00 pm. Enjoy a festive Holiday Tea served in the formal
dining room. Sit with friends in one of the lovely parlors
and then stroll through the beautifully decorated rooms
and hallways, visit the Holiday Gift Shop for homemade
baked goods. $15 prepaid. Open House, December 6,
10:00 am – 2:00 pm and December 7, noon – 4:00 pm. Ask
questions of Mansion volunteers, and let the children
enjoy holiday crafts and a visit from Sinterklaas from
noon to 2 pm $5 adults, $1 under 12, $10 family rate.
Albany Institute of History & Art
125 Washington Avenue; 463-4478; www.albanyinstitute.org
Rockwell Memorial Lecture, October 19, 2:00 pm. Barbara
Millhouse, author of American Wilderness: The Story of the
Hudson River School of Painting, published by Black Dome
Press. Followed by book signing.
Albany Public Library
161 Washington Ave., 427-4300,
www.albanypubliclibrary.org
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender History Month Films.
October 10, 3:30 pm, In and Out; 5:30 pm, Torch Song Trilogy.
October 11, noon, D.E.B.S; 2:00 pm, The Children’s Hour
Capital Rep
111 No. Pearl Street; 445-SHOW; www.capitalrep.org
• Art (September 19-October 12). Directed by Kirk Jackson
and winner of the Tony, Olivier, and Moliere awards for
Best Play, Art will leave you laughing when a completely
white and astonishingly expensive painting wreaks havoc
on three long-time friends.
• Anna in the Tropics (October 31– November 23). The heat
and sensuality of the tropics collide with the passion of
Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina in this provocative and exciting
story from Latino Pulitzer Prize winner Nilo Cruz. The
lives of a group of Cuban-American cigar rollers are
forever changed by the arrival of a handsome lector, who
reads Tolstoy to the workers as they labor.
City of Albany’s Annual Columbus Day Celebration
October 11, Washington Park, noon – 5:00 pm
www.columbusdayalbanyny.com
Albany’s 17th Annual Columbus Parade steps off at 1:00 pm
from Ontario Street and Western Avenue, proceeds down
Western into Washington Park. The historic park is the setting
for an authentic Italian Festival from 2:00-5:00 pm with
food, music, crafters, children’s activities and more. From
3:00-5:00 pm, the festival features a special tribute to Bobby
Darin, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, under the direction of
Albany’s Park Playhouse. For more information, call 518-6417511.
eba Center for Dance & Fitness
351 Hudson Avenue; 459-9916; www.eba-arts.org
• Fall Session of classes for Adults & Teens, September
22 – December 11. Visit the Web site for a complete
list of classes & schedule. Contact: Jenn Newman, eba
administrator; [email protected]
• Kids Dancspace @ eba, September 22, 2008 – June 4, 2009.
eba classes emphasize creativity, an individual point of
view, dance as art and dance as an activity that everyone
can participate in. Students learn dance technique in an
encouraging, enjoyable and disciplined atmosphere. The
last five minutes of each class is parent observation time,
Compiled
by
Colleen
Ryan
so kids can develop their performance skills, and the
parents can see what their child is learning and give lots
of positive feedback.
The Egg
473-1845; www.theegg.org
American Roots & Branches
• Chris Botti, October 16, 8:00 pm, $48/$38/$34. Through
his singular combination of lush atmospheres and
thoughtful improvisations, trumpeter Chris Botti has
earned both critical acclaim and popular appreciation in
the realm of contemporary jazz. Italia, his most recent
release, is a suite of songs and music inspired by the
romance of Italy.
• David Byrne: Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno,
November 5, 8:00 pm – $68, $62, $58. As front man of
Talking Heads, David Byrne, was an innovator in the
emerging new wave rock scene of the late 1970s. David
Byrne and producer Brian Eno began their artistic
relationship with three Talking Heads albums, followed
by their groundbreaking project My Life in the Bush of
Ghosts. Now, David and Brian have made a new record,
Everything That Happens Will Happen Today, their first in 30
years will also be performed.
First Friday – many locations – October 3, November 7
Upstate Artists Guild, 247 Lark Street; www.
upstateartistsguild.org; 426-3501
• Buried City – UAG Gallery Show, October 3 through
October 24. The UAG presents Buried City with featured
artist Michael Button.
• Futura – UAG Gallery Show, November 7 through
November 28. The UAG presents a show featuring
artwork with a futuristic theme.
Historic Albany Foundation
465-0876; www.historic-albany.org
BUILT – Albany’s Architecture Through Artists’ Eyes.
November 8, Cathedral of All Saints. Historic Albany
Foundation presents its 7th annual art exhibit and silent
auction of original art inspired by Albany’s architecture.
WAMC Performing Arts Studio
339 Central Avenue; 1-800-323-9262; www.wamcarts.org
• Uncle Rock, October 10, 10:00 am, FREE. An Uncle
Rock performance is a joyous, interactive, adult-friendly
experience that uses music as a means of bringing folks
young and old together. Many of Uncle Rock’s catchy,
rhythmically propulsive songs were born at his day job
as a teacher’s assistant for preschoolers, where he landed
after four years as a stay-at-home dad to his son Jack
(who joins him on many songs). While there are plenty
of celebratory, goofy singalongs, the material doesn’t shy
away from shadowy elements of life, often showing how
music can help one to face the dragon in the closet.
• Late Night Film Event: The Rocky Horror Picture Show,
October 31, 11:00 pm, $6. It doesn’t matter how many
times you’ve seen it, it just feels good to put the fishnets
on! They’re back: Brad, Janet and the whole kinky troupe
from transsexual Transylvania! The Rocky Horror Picture
Show is still the weirdest film out there and probably the
ultimate cult classic, even after more than 25 years.
Don’t forget the toast!
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 7
Revitalization, from page 5
The HomeStore staff will
work with the Department
of Development and
Planning to focus
attention on plan areas
and the most marketable
vacant buildings in those
neighborhoods. Staff
will create and maintain
partnerships to develop
financial incentives and
promote training programs
to make rehabilitating
abandoned buildings more
reasonable.
The Division will also
work with Development
and Planning in the
implementation of
neighborhood plans, and
will direct its efforts to
neighborhood outreach
and the dissemination of
information. Its programs
will be flexible, making
adjustments and additions
as necessary. This
flexibility is essential to the
success of abandonment
abatement initiatives
because it is designed to
ensure that each piece of
the strategy is working and
creating the best possible
impact.
As the Division’s new
Director, Judith Johnson
brings ample experience
in historic preservation,
municipal planning and
real estate to the Albany
effort. She headed a
survey of Memphis’
building stock and
later performed federal
reviews and oversaw
redevelopment of the Beale
Street historic district.
Judith also provided equity
to adaptive reuse projects
and developed affordable
housing.
Under the leadership
of Major Jennings and
Judith Johnson, the
Division will dedicate
its efforts to eradicating
blight and increasing
homeownership. Toward
that end, Andrew Anton, a
familiar face at the Albany
Community Development
Agency, will retain his role
as HomeStore Financial
Analyst, assisting
individuals to qualify for
city incentive programs. In
addition, three new faces
will join the Division over
the upcoming months in
the roles of Abandoned
Buildings Coordinator,
Neighborhood
Development Specialist
and HomeStore Outreach
Specialist.
From its beginnings
as part of the Mayor’s
Capitalize Albany
initiative, the Division
has established a solid
conceptual foundation
and laid the groundwork
for a successful program
to bring abandoned
properties back into
productive use. Under
the Mayor’s charge, the
city’s individual codes
and programs have
together evolved into a
comprehensive strategy
to combat blight and
abandonment. Thus,
Block by Block, the Vacant
Building Registry, Vacant
Building Court and the
Division of Neighborhood
Revitalization working
together will seek to end
abandonment in the city,
in the near future, making
Albany an even better
place to call home.
AAHO
Supports
Capital Neighbors!
GSCA, from page 2
new emergency lighting, a new door with
crash bars for the Madison Avenue side and
new safety hardware for the Grand Street
door. Of course, lots of this work was done by
volunteers, from our own local carpenters to
the apprentices at the bricklayers’ and masons’
union, so much more than a grant would cover
was advanced, including a lot of floor, wall and
ceiling patching, some wonderful decorations,
as well as cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. And
check out those new front doors!
We end this phase with a pretty significant
debt load, most of it because of an emergency
roof repair job last fall. But what a joy it has
been to have a functioning building that
actually meets the city’s code and safety
standards! We were able to host a number of
events and shows this spring and summer, as
well as the first year of Grand Street Kids Club.
Next, we will shift our focus to energy
systems and the basement. In that regard,
experts from the New York State Power
Authority surveyed St. Anthony’s in early
September to look at how we can most
efficiently and economically heat and cool
the building. There are some pretty obvious
challenges with an old building with very high
ceilings, but also some exciting opportunities
utilizing solar and other cutting edge energy
sources. This energy audit will tell us a lot and
help us document the needs we have.
Albany Area Housing Opportunities
246 Hudson Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
434-8584
Fall 2008, CAPITAL Neighbors — 8
Antiques/Art/Collectibles/
Framing/Jewelry/Upholstery
Business Guide
28 Dove St. Limited, 28 Dove St., 432-1648. Antiques and collectibles.
Advocacy Center Art & Crafts Gallery,
247 Lark St.
ALPRO Antique & Lighting, 227 Lark St.,
434-3363. Chandeliers/lamps, rewired/repaired,
houseware polishing.
Flamingo’s, 211 Lark St., 434-3829. Antiques and
collectibles.
Madison Art & Antiques, 460 Madison Ave.,
465-3735. Buying and selling.
National Upholstery, 231 Lark St., 434-1458. Upholstery and gift shop; locally produced textile crafts.
The End of the Day, 221 Lark St., 434-3236. Antiques
and specialty tea shop.
Treasure Chest, 295 Hamilton St., 449-7119. Thrift
store. M-F 11am-6pm; Sat 10am-4pm.
Arts/Entertainment
Albany Art Room, 457 Madison Ave., 427-3910.
Create and share artistic expression.
eba Center for Dance & Movement, 351 Hudson
Ave., 465-9916. [email protected].
Automotive/Appliances
Beaver Body & Paint, 9 Garden Alley, 463-7044.
Since 1937.
Capitol Tech Auto Repair, 169 Jefferson St.,
432-7781. ASE certified, foreign/domestic.
Dunbrook Mobil, 442 Madison Ave., 434-6324.
Full service.
Miller’s Corner Garage, 30 Park Ave., 426-8329.
Beauty/Hair Salons
Absolute Hair, 305 Hamilton St., 432-4925.
Crews, 295 Hamilton St., 448-7360. Hair salon.
DeeVa Nails, 132 Madison Ave.
Elan Hair Studio, 309 Hamilton St., 427-7777.
Hair Werks, 173 S. Pearl St.
Headlines Ltd., 248 Lark St., 434-0299. Haircutting
salon.
Hudson Hair Studio, 298 Hudson Ave., 445-9644.
Jonathan’s of Atlanta Hair Design, 177 S. Pearl St.,
449-4153.
Mahogany, 109 Green St., 465-8018.
Perfect Cut, 299 Lark St., 434-3277.
Spring Break Tanning, 454 Madison Ave., 433-0595.
Stancil’s Barber Shop, 114 Madison Ave.,
463-6111. Specializing in Afro hair processing.
Super DX, Inc., 189 S. Pearl St.
The 3-Star Barber Shop, 193 S. Pearl St.
Townsend & Company Hair Salon, 153 S. Swan St.,
449-1535.
Bed & Breakfast
Angel’s Cafe and B&B, 96 Madison Ave., 426-4104,
www.angelsbedandbreakfast.com. Unique
urban inn.
Mansion Hill Inn, 115 Philip St. at Park Ave.,
465-2038. An urban inn and restaurant.
State Street Mansion, 281 State St., 462-6780.
Serving continental breakfast.
The State House, 393 State St., 427-6063. Casually
elegant private accommodations.
Beer/Liquor/Convenience Stores
Capital Wine, 348 Lark St., 689-0160. International
selection of premium wines.
Diana Discount Wine & Liquor, 67 Grand St.,
449-3840.
Empire News, 10 Delaware Ave., 462-1543.
Imperial InstaMart, 191 Lark St., 462-1260.
Lark News & Grocery, 252 Lark St., 465-5800.
N&H Grocery, 218 Lark St., 436-0484.
Terry’s News, 302 Lark St., 432-0331.
Books
Dove & Hudson Old Books, 296 Hudson Ave.,
432-4518. Used books and publishers overstocks.
Hodge Podge Books, 272 Lark St., 434-0238.
“Reading is fun.”
Churches
Cathedral of All Saints, 62 S. Swan St., 465-1342,
fax 465-1346, e-mail [email protected].
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Corner
of Eagle St. and Madison Ave., 463-4447. All are
welcome.
First Lutheran Church, 181 Western Ave., 463-1326;
www.firstlutheranalbany.org. Oldest Lutheran
Congregation in North America.
The Focus Churches:
• Emmanuel Baptist, 275 State St., 465-5161.
• First Presby., 362 State St., 449-7332.
• Israel AME, 381 Hamilton St., 463-8779.
• Trinity Methodist, 235 Lark St., 463-1293.
• Westminster Presby., 262 State St., 436-8544.
Metropolitan Community Church, 275 State St.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Luthern Church, 475 State St.,
463-0571, www.Luther95.net/SPELC-ANYI>
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 107 State Street.,
434-3502.
Wilborn Temple, 121 Jay St., 465-7561.
Clothing
Capital Kidzwear, 204 Washington Ave., 462-2791.
Affordable children’s apparel and accessories.
DAval’s Clothiers, Inc., 153 South Pearl St, 2211405. “Rebirth of Style.” Off-site consultations.
Shining Star, 244 Lark St., 465-5520. Contemporary
clothing, gifts, incense club.
The Waldorf Tuxedo Company, Lark/Lancaster Sts.,
449-5011. Formal wear sales and rentals.
Unique Blends, 116 Madison Ave., 432-7495.
Dry Cleaning/
Laundromats/Tailors
Dan’s Cleaners, 284 Lark St., 465-7519.
Quality dry cleaning.
Dove St. Laundromat, Corner Dove and Lancaster
Sts. Self-service.
In-Towne Laundry, 14 Delaware Ave., 462-9313.
Drop-off service available.
Mansion Hill Laundromat, 167 Madison Ave.
Rocco’s, 220 Lark St., 426-4843. Laundromat, shoe
repair and keys.
Speed-Wash, 451 Madison Ave. Do-it-yourself
Laundromat.
Flowers
Lark St. Flower Market, 262 Lark St., 427-9466. “We
push petals.”
Dental/Medical
Bert Isen, 16 Delaware Ave., 434-4408. Chiropractic
services for children and adults; accept most
insurance.
Abdul Khan, 25 Dove St., 463-0522. Dentist
Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, 259 Lark St.,
434-5678.
Not-for-Profit Organizations/
Public Service
Albany Area Housing Opportunities,
246 Hudson Ave., 434-8584.
Albany Center Galleries, 161 Washington Ave.,
462-4775, www.albanycentergalleries.org.
Exhibiting regional contemporary art.
Albany Damien Center, 12 S. Lake Ave.,
449-7119. Drop-in community center for persons
living with HIV/AIDS — call for event calendar.
Boys & Girls Club, 19 Delaware Ave., 462-5528.
Neil Breslin, NYS Senate, 455-2225.
Capital District Gay and Lesbian Community
Council, 332 Hudson Ave., 462-6138.
Children’s Defense Fund, 247 Lark St.
Dominick Calsolaro, Council Member, 463-3356.
Richard Conti, Council Member, 436-8546.
Christopher Higgins, County Legislator, 320,8580.
Carolyn McLaughlin, Council Member, 462-1458
Environmental Advocates,
353 Hamilton St.,
462-5526.
Equinox Community
Services, Inc., 95 Central
Ave., tel 434-6135, fax
434-4502.
Historic Albany
Foundation/Historic Albany
Parts Warehouse, 83-89
Lexington Ave., 465-2987.
Housing Works, 247 Lark
St. Housing for homeless
people living with AIDS/HIV.
Lark Street Neighborhood
District Management
Association, 245 Lark St.,
434-3861. The Heart of
Albany.
Maternal Infant Network
of the Capital Region, 307
Hamilton St., 426-1153.
Jack McEneny, NYS
Assembly, 455-4178.
New York Library
Association, 252 Hudson
Ave., 432-6952.
New York Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides,
353 Hamilton St., 4268246.
NYS Association of Black & Puerto Rican
Legislators, 174 S. Swan St., 427-8363.
Nutrition Consortium, 235 Lark St., 463-1293.
Senior Services of Albany, 25 Delaware Ave.,
465-3322.
Resource Center, Inc., 291 Hudson Ave., 463-9242
or 800-811-1175. NYS advocate on mental health
services.
Professional Services
Association of Architects, 235 Lark St., 449-3334.
Becker & Becker, 21 Wilbur St., 462-5814. Attorneys
and counselors at law.
Brownstone Graphics, 303 Hudson Ave., 434-8707.
Graphic design.
Frank A. Catalano, 154 Madison Ave., 432-5810.
Attorney at law.
Capital Eduation Network, 132 S. Swan St., 4340876. Financial consulting.
Center for Body/Mind Awareness, 4 Central Ave,
463-5145.
Center Square Counseling Services, 245 Lark St.,
465-9700.
Hamel Realty, 291 Hudson Ave., 434-3591.
Hounds on the Hudson, 434-8010. Dogwalking and
pet care.
Key Bank of New York, Lark St. & Washington Ave.
463-1228; 135 S. Pearl St., 453-1637.
Math Tutoring, Christina Blais, 148 Lancaster St.,
427-6284. From fractions to Course A and GED.
Metroland, 419 Madison Ave., 463-2500. Alternative
news weekly.
National Education Association of NY, 217 Lark St.,
462-6451.
New York International Real Estate Corp., 138
Green St., 434-1481, [email protected]. Property
management and brokerage.
NYS Association of Architects/American Institute of
Architects, 235 Lark St., 465-3191.
NYS Chiropractic Association, 245 Lark St., 455-8817.
Lewis Oliver, Jr., Esq, 156 Madison Ave., 463-7962.
Pastures Village Chiropractic, 111 Green St.,
436-8053.
Picasso Digital, 463-3396. Document scanning,
print/copy, photography, Web page design.
Dining Guide:
Plaza Office Center, Corner of S. Swan St. and
Hudson Ave., 465-3995. Office rental, voice mail,
fax, copying, typing services.
Prudential Manor Homes Realtors, 283 Lark St.,
439-4943.
Randall E. Kehoe, 127 Madison Ave., 465-2211.
Attorneys at law.
Robin’s Nest Construction & Renovation, 9 Bleecker
Place, 449-2935. Custom carpentry, tile, furniture,
doors/windows/trim and more.
Select Homes, 869-2222 x212. Eileen Carroll Rosen,
licensed sales associate.
The College Board, 125 S. Swan St., 472-1515, Brian
Petraitis, Director.
The Center for Nia and Yoga, 4 Central Ave., 3645145, www.nia-yoga.com.
Specialty Shops
99 Cents and More, 141 S. Pearl St., 436-7618.
Albany Tattoo, 174 Madison Ave., 463-6604.
Cottage Herb Farm Shop, 311 State St.,
465-1130. Herbs, spices, rare teas and gifts.
EB Essentials, 248 Lark St., 463-1737. Unique gifts
for everyone. www.ebessentials.com.
Elissa Halloran Designs, 225 Lark St., 432-7090.
Funky designs for the body and the home.
Joanna Hetman, Jewelry Artist, 211 Lark St., 4343829.
Lark Street Tattoo, 274 Lark St., 432-1905. Custom
tattooing in all styles.
Little Moon, 467 Madison Ave., 434-6018. Tibetan
gift shop.
Romeo’s Gifts, 299 Lark St., 434-4014. Beauty and
style made affordable.
Simple Gifts, 20 Elm St. 465-0582.
Viva Lark Vegas, 273 Lark St. 434-4907. Professional
body piercing.
Sports
The Downtube, 466 Madison Ave., 434-1711.
Bicycles for the entire family.
Universal Martial Arts & Fitness Center, 116
Madison Ave., 427-6308.
YMCA/Capital District/Albany Branch, 274
Washington Avenue, 449-7196; www.cdymca.org.
Building strong kids, families and communities.
Albany Coffee Shop, 222 Lark St., 465-9029. Sam’s
home cooking, featuring breakfast and lunch. Amazing Wok, 267 Lark St., 434-3946. Chinese
take-out food. Angelo’s Submarine, 133 Madison Ave., 463-1357. Submarine sandwiches.
Angel’s Café and B&B, 96 Madison Ave., 426-4104. Breakfast/luncheon. A Taste of Greece, 193
Lark St., 426-9000. Ben & Jerry’s, 250 Lark St., 463-7182. Ice cream cakes for all occasions.
Bombers Burrito Bar, 258 Lark St., 463-9636. Serving enormous burritos, tacos, quesadillas
and chili. Bongiorno’s Restaurant, 23 Dove St., 462-9176. Veal is the house specialty. Café
Capriccio, 49 Grand St., 465-0439. Northern Italian. Café Hollywood, 275 Lark St., 472-9043.
Albany’s fun and funky video bar. Cheesecake Machismo, 293 Hamilton St., 427-7019, 4299012. Corner Food Court, Corner Lark St. and Washington Ave., 463-8811. Variety of cuisines.
Crisan, 197 Lark St., 445-2727. Bakery and edible art gallery. Debbie’s Kitchen, 456 Madison
Ave., 463-3829. Unique sandwiches, soups and baked goods. DeJohn’s Restaurant and Pub,
288 Lark St., 465-5275. Dino’s Pizza, 420 Madison Ave., 396-3466. Dunkin Donuts, Corner
Lark St. & Madison Ave., 436-5297. Donuts and coffee. Elda’s On Lark, 207 Lark St., 4493532. El Loco Mexican Café, 465 Madison Ave., 436-1855. Traditional Mexican specialties.
El Mariachi, 289 Hamilton St., 432-7580; 144 Washington Ave., 465-2568. Fine Mexican/
Spanish cuisine. Golden Dragon, 145 Madison Ave., 433-8057. Chinese take-out. Grand St.
Imports, 77 Grand St., 465-8465. Fresh meats, produce and groceries. Hoda Deli, 130 Madison
Ave. Ike’s Pizzeria, 189 Lark St., 462-1111. Brooklyn style brick oven pizza and more. Hill
Street Café, 180 Madison Ave., 462-3544. A sports bar with great food. Hot Dog Heaven,
216 Lark St., 465-3837. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Jack Bit & Joltz, 215 Lark St.,
877-711-jackbit. J.G.’s Pizza, 195 Lark St., 465-1922. Traditional, white and gourmet pizza.
Justin’s, 301 Lark St., 436-7008. Extraordinary food, jazz and art. Lark Street Deli & Catering,
196 Lark St., 436-9396. Specialty sandwiches. Lark Tavern, 453 Madison Ave., 463-9779. Hot
and cold sandwiches. Legends Sports Bar, 288 Lark St., 275-4900. Big screen TVs with pub
fare. Lombardo’s Restaurant, 119-121 Madison Ave., 462-9180. Fine Italian food. Magnolias
On The Park, 462 Madison Ave., 449-2492. Fine dining at affordable prices. Mamoun’s Mideast
Café, 206 Washington Ave., 434-3901. Mediterranean cuisine. Mansion Hill Inn, 115 Philip
St., 465-2038. Maria’s Spanish Food, 185½ Lark St., 472-9429. McGuire’s, 353 State St.,
463-2100. Fine Dining. Metro Mini Mart, 165 Madison Ave., 449-1491. Groceries, deli and ATM.
New Image Deli, 179 S. Pearl St., 463-5439. Oh Bar, 304 Lark St., 463-9004. An alternative
neighborhood bar. Pinto and Hobbs, State and Dove Sts., 426-4900. American cuisine. Price
Chopper Supermarket, 40 Delaware Ave., 465-2603. Open 24 hours. Ramona’s, 290 Lark St.,
449-2010. Open 7 days, breakfast and lunch. Romeo’s Pizza, 420 Madison Ave., 449-9000.
Scratch Bakery & Café, 452 Madison Ave., 465-2233. Fresh baked goods and deli. Simply Fish,
147 S. Pearl St., 396-3474. Soho Pizza, 269 Lark St., 449-1111. Greenwich Village style brick
oven pizza and more. Stephanie’s Deli, 145 Madison Ave., 432-4540. Sukkothai, 254 Lark
St., 463-0223. Thai food restaurant. Stella Del Mare, 123 Madison Ave., 434-0310. Groceries,
deli, Italian specialties. Taj Mahal Restaurant, 193 Lark St., 426-9000. Authentic Indian cuisine.
The Daily Grind, 204 Lark St., 434-1482. Full café menu with great coffee. The Good Leaf, 274
Lark St., 434-0132. Gourmet tea company and café. The Lionheart Blues Café, 448 Madison
Ave., 436-9530. The New Madison Grill, 331 Madison Ave., 434-1938. “Best pizza in town.”
Totem, 271 Lark St., 432-6610. V & R Restaurant, 136 Madison Ave., 626-0001. Italian, daily
specials. Zuzu’s Wonderful Life, Inc., 299-301 Hamilton St., 426-1269. Healthy snacks/salads.
Wine Bar & Bistro, 200 Lark St., 463-2881. European style wines and lite fare.