She said she will continue work begun by Griffin, who held the position since 1997. During her tenure, the foundation grew from 200 members to more than 700, and she spearheaded such projects as the stabilization of St. Joseph's Church, restoration of row houses on State Street and Jay Street and an inventory with the University of Albany of the city's 700 abandoned buildings.

"I'm excited by the challenge," said Holland, a 42-year-old Colonie native. "Our mission is to preserve and protect, to keep neighborhoods for people."

One of her priorities will be the fundraising campaign for St. Joseph's Church, where the foundation has $100,000 of the $300,000 it needs to match a state grant for repair work, she said. The foundation replaced part of the roof supports last year.

James Cohen, president of foundation's board of directors, also announced that Erin Tobin Bearden was hired in a new position, director of preservation services.

"Combining Susan's skills in fundraising and development of the built environment coupled with Erin's technical expertise and preservation experience, the foundation is well poised to continue in its endeavors," Cohen said.

"Elizabeth Griffin has done a magnificent job of helping people realize that our built environment is our tangible link not only to the past, but to future development as well," said Cohen. "The board and membership of the foundation ... is indebted to Elizabeth for her legacy of hard work, dedication to the ideals of historic preservation and persistence in seeing through every task she undertook."