A new life for the New Scotland Ave Armory?
Waiting for something to do.
Given its location and understated grandeur, it always seemed like the New Scotland Ave Armory in Albany should be able to find some sort of use. And now maybe it is.
The Sage Colleges are in the process of buying the building from the bankrupt research institute that currently owns it, the Biz Review reports. It makes sense -- Sage's Albany campus is literally right next to the building.
The almost-60,000-square-foot armory was built in 1914 and originally housed a cavalry unit. It was deactivated in 1993, and closed in 1999. It's on the National Register of Historic Places. [NYS Military Museum] [National Register]
The now-bankrupt Ordway Institute had bought the building in 2010 with the aim of turning it into an incubator for biomedical startups. That obviously never hatched. [Biz Review]
The New Scotland Ave Armory is part of a generation of about 120 armories built in the state around the beginning of the 20th century. Some of them have been repurposed -- as performance spaces, sports facilities, museums, even a bed-and-breakfast. [SUNY Press]
Others haven't been so lucky. Maybe that shouldn't be surprising -- the buildings are old and big, so anyone taking them on is committing to rather large project. There were no bidders when the state tried to auction the Schenectady Armory last year. It's among a group of armories the state is currently trying to sell as surplus real estate (listing for the Schenectady Armory). The Hoosick Falls Armory in Rensselaer County (designed by Isaac Perry) is also on that list -- the Hoosick town board is considering a deal to buy it for $1. [TU] [Bennington Banner]
Find It
New Scotland Avenue Armory
130 New Scotland Ave
Albany, NY 12208
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Comments
(calvary is not quite the same thing as cavalry.)
Editors: It's not. Fixed. Thanks.
Always thought that building was cool. Hopefully Sage does something cool with it.
... said ethan on Apr 5, 2012 at 4:36 PM | link
Love that building. It was home of the 210th Armour Battalion and I served there from '86-'92. The upper floors still had horse stalls and that place was buzzing with life on drill weekends. I always hoped the building could be saved. I'm sure it's important to a few generations of Albanians who have served in the NYARNG.
My favorite memory will always be during the first Gulf War. I was driving a truck to Fort Drum for training as part of a large convoy, and people stood on the side of New Scotland Avenue and applauded as we drove past. You never forget things like that.
... said Mike Davis on Apr 5, 2012 at 10:51 PM | link
The armory also served as the stable and riding school for cadets of the Christian Brothers Academy, then located next door.
... said Eric Scheirer Stott on Apr 6, 2012 at 4:53 PM | link