What is blight?
The T.U.'s Mark McGuire points out that last night on Jeopardy, when Alex Trebek asked a question about urban decay, the accompanying image was a shot of boarded up buildings along Albany's Sheridan Avenue. The Albany Common Council has taken some steps of late to try and tackle the vacant building issue in Albany. In December they passed legislation requiring the owners of vacant buildings to post $10,000 bond when they register the buildings with code enforcement. [Right Now] [TU]
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That could literally be a picture of any street in downtown Albany. State Street, Mansion Neghborhood, Clinton Ave, you name it.
... said Ron on Feb 15, 2012 at 11:43 AM | link
Not to worry, Mayor Jennings has appointed a new head of buildings and codes to deal with this issue. Of course, the guy is a lawyer and has no qualifications for the job but he did use to work for Congressman John Sweeney so he at least knows about professional standards.
http://alb.merlinone.net/mweb/wmsql.wm.request?oneimage&imageid=15666451
"A section of city code on the division requires that the director be "either a civil engineer of not fewer than five years experience ... or an architect, a general building contractor or a person engaged in the supervision of building construction with at least 10 years actual experience."
It was not immediately clear how Jamison's experience squared with those requirements, but Bob Van Amburgh, a senior aide to Jennings, said the mayor's office did not believe there was any reason Jamison could not serve."
Carry on.
... said Code Monkey on Feb 15, 2012 at 11:44 AM | link
Let's just sue Alex Trebeck. I'd be willing to settle out-of-court if he agrees to grow his mustache back.
... said Tim on Feb 15, 2012 at 12:02 PM | link
The city should require that owners, when boarding up vacant buildings, paint scenes of domestic tranquility in the boarded up windows. If we can't actually reverse "urban blight," at least we can pretend it's not there. That will address it, won't it?
... said Bob on Feb 15, 2012 at 1:00 PM | link
I watched Jeopardy last night, and jokingly said to my husband that the photo looked like Albany. I'm sorry I was right. It's a shame that so much of the city's buildings are in that state of disrepair.
... said Beck on Feb 15, 2012 at 2:10 PM | link
Arg. North Albany has such amazingly gorgeous buildings that are going to sh*t, have gone to sh*t, and in many cases been knocked down to become urban prairie-land. Its a tragedy.
... said BBnet3000 on Feb 15, 2012 at 2:59 PM | link
I have to wonder about these buildings. Are these people paying property taxes on a vacant building?
If one went to the owner and said, look, I'll give you $5000 for that building, would he take it? Then, demolish it, plant some grass, put in two park benches and a bike rack, and call it a day.
... said ethan on Feb 15, 2012 at 3:06 PM | link
To be fair to Sheridan, in a different context, when you mix it in with other shots of Albany's iconic beauty, it doesn't look THAT bad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5r_AbNTixZk
You just wouldn't want to hang out there. Or shoot a music video there.. again.
... said sadxmas on Feb 15, 2012 at 3:30 PM | link
So sad; maybe we should just rename Albany. I like "Little Detroit".
... said -R. on Feb 16, 2012 at 9:54 AM | link