All Over Albany

The demolition costs would not be that bad all in all if asbestos abatement/disposal was not part of the equation. That is apparently the primary element preventing redevelopment of this parcel. Haz waste disposal + weight = no thanks.

... said ace on Nov 17, 2015 at 12:18 PM | link

Can we talk about this from the intro?

"The old warehouse is a slice of Detroit just north of downtown Albany, a symbol of bygone might and economic decay in a neighborhood in which the most popular attraction is a methadone clinic."

It's also right around the corner from Wolff's, Tanpopo, Druthers, Olde English, 677 Prime, the Palace, Capital Rep, several active churches... thanks for taking a big, steaming dump on that neighborhood, Chris Churchill, right after a good, lengthy discussion here about why people seem to complain about Albany.

... said -B on Nov 17, 2015 at 12:57 PM | link

I know there was just the whole topic of why people who live here are so down in Albany and ugh, it's things like this that get me started. I don't think Albany is the only place that has white elephants like this but it reminds me of the old Wellington. It was something, then nothing, then just allowed to crumble and fester until it was dangerous. There seems sometimes to be this sentiment of eh, it's there, whattya gonna do and the city is burdened with it. I'm guessing this went into foreclosure but why isn't it Sunmark's responsibility now? Why aren't they on the hook for demoltion costs? It also makes me think of the whole high school fiasco: something must but done but it's too expensive to do what needs to be done so eh, whattya gonna do.
O, Albany.

... said Rebecca on Nov 17, 2015 at 1:38 PM | link

Who wants to Kickstart this and turn it into a park? Big trees. Big playground. Maybe a big gazebo where big bands can play while big families stretch out on big blankets.

... said ethan on Nov 17, 2015 at 2:12 PM | link

@-B,
When I wrote that, it wasn't with the idea that the Central Warehouse and the Warehouse District are in the same neighborhood. It's seven lonely blocks from the warehouse to Broadway and Ferry and the Wolff's area. The Palace and Prime might be technically closer, as the crow flies, but it's a tricky journey. That said, if you've ever seen the crowds that come to the clinic, it's clearly the area's most popular attraction, which speaks to the depth of the addiction crisis.

Overall, the point of the column wasn't to be negative. (I love what's happening in the WD.) It was intended to be more along the lines of, here's this thing that everybody complains about, so a.) let's think of ways that it can be turned into something useful or more attractive and b.) let's at least admire the warehouse for its resilience.

... said Chris Churchill on Nov 17, 2015 at 5:02 PM | link

Thanks for the response, Chris. I take criticism of downtown personally, if it wasn't obvious. It's just that there's so much positive going on within sight of the warehouse (one of the best views of it is from the Corning Preserve, one of the better walks downtown and if you want to talk crowds, how about Alive @ 5...) that highlighting an addiction treatment center and the clear connection the piece makes there kind of stings.

That opening really set the tone of the article and it's just not representative of the area as a whole; there's no need for bombast if you really do appreciate the positive that downtown and the warehouse district have to offer. The area already gets enough negative attention, and it seemed really timely with the recent discussion on AOA. Just feels like you had the opportunity to do a really thoughtful piece and instead took a cheap shot.

... said -B on Nov 18, 2015 at 9:09 AM | link