The following is a short list of some of the city's incredible architectural resources that are currently threatened with demolition. Through this list, we hope to educate people about their existence -- and build interest in saving them. The loss of these structures would forever change the unique historic character of their neighborhoods.
 

• Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church 

St. Joseph’s was designed in 1856 by Patrick Keeley, America’s most prolific designers of Catholic churches. It is one of Albany’s truly great landmarks, and is considered Keeley’s masterpiece. The building defines the neighborhood in which it stands, and its steeple, added around 1910, is the most visible element in Albany’s northern skyline. Though the building’s architectural merits are not in question, St. Joseph’s future is uncertain. The building’s size and elaborate design have made identifying a new use and owner difficult. However, The Roman Catholic Diocese, the City of Albany, and Historic Albany Foundation are all in agreement that the building should be saved and are working towards a solution.
 
• Public School # 10

School #10 was designed by Albert Fuller in 1890. Its interesting two-towered facade and elaborate wrought-iron gates make this one of Albany’s finest late  nineteenth century municipal buildings. In spite of the building’s excellent  condition it is threatened with demolition for the construction of an Eckerd drug store. Efforts to save the building have gained nation attention, due to the building’s importance and the recent proliferation of new “big-box” drug stores in historic urban environments across the country. Plans, generated by Historic Albany Foundation, show that both the new drug store and school #10 could coexist on the site with no change in the function, design, or parking requirements of Eckerd’s proposal. But in spite of these plans -- and the active lobbying in support of the school building by the Preservation League of New York State, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and area Neighborhood Associations -- Eckerd remains steadfast and unwilling to talk.
 
• Radliff-Holt House (Saul’s) at 48 Hudson Avenue

Built circa 1759, the Radliff-Holt House is the second oldest building in the  second oldest city in America. This Dutch Colonial building and its neighbor, which dates to about 1820, are currently stranded in a sea of parking lots.  However, their location adjacent to what is perhaps the oldest urban green space  in the country, and their visibility from Broadway make them excellent potential catalysts for a positive rebirth of that portion of downtown. These two onetime houses are the last survivors of a once thriving community. In March of 2000 the only other surviving buildings in the area were torn down by Omni Development Corporation to make way for additional parking. Two of the demolished structures were designed by prominent Albany Architect Philip Hooker  in 1809.
 
• 132-140 State Street (Wellington, Berkshire and Elks Lodge)

Lower State Street , between the capitol and the former D&H Building, is arguably Albany’s most historically and architecturally important street-scape. It is in fact  is one of the most important urban streets in the United States. However, relatively recent losses have made each of the surviving historic buildings all the more important. These five buildings now represent fully 1/6 of the remaining historic fabric of the street. The quality of their design and construction make each of these buildings an important contributor to the city’s built environment. 134 State Street was designed by nationally renowned architect James Dakin in 1832. The Elks Lodge’s superb facade was designed by M.L. and H.G. Emery in 1911.  Prominent Albany Architect Albert Fuller, designed the Berkshire in about 1900. In spite of the obvious importance of these buildings as part of rich architectural legacy the current owner has actively sought to demolish the buildings in the belief that an empty lot will be more marketable than the existing buildings. Mayor Jennings has made his position public by saying he would welcome the removal of “those eyesores,” in spite of the fact that the removal of the existing building would lead to nothing but the creation of an empty lot. There are currently no plans to develop the site if the sought-after demolition permit is approved.
 
• Terra-Cotta Emery Building and Queen-Anne Neighbor 

52-54 North Pearl Street 
These two buildings are landmarks of Albany’s best preserved downtown street, and are located along Mayor Jennings’ proposed “entertainment corridor.” The building at 52 North Pearl was built as a townhouse in the 1820s, but its current facade is an excellent example of brick Queen-Anne architecture of the late 1870s. Its neighbor at 54 North Pearl is Albany’s best surviving example of a small scale full terra-cotta facade.
 
• Broadway Neighborhood North of Clinton Avenue

Last spring five of the best buildings in this important Albany Neighborhood were demolished. Four of the five were individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the fifth contained one of Albany’s finest domestic interiors. The remaining buildings are of similar importance, but with so little cohesiveness, they could well prove the old maxim “together we stand divided we fall.” These buildings are far too important to Albany’s past and future to let that happen, and could serve as the nucleus for the revitalization of their part of Broadway.
 
• Remaining Buildings Adjacent to Former “Albany Garage”

This handful of fine nineteenth century residential and commercial buildings is surrounded by banal new development which ignores the existence of Albany’s important and historic side-streets. These buildings -- until recently -- were adjacent to the architecturally important and historic Albany Garage, but with its demolition last year these buildings have become isolated. Albany’s ever-growing appetite for more parking could claim yet another historic downtown enclave. However, a handful of visionary owners could utilize the buildings to serve the needs of the expanding daytime population of downtown, instead of simply providing a place for them to put their cars.
 
• James Renwick’s Trinity Church (1848) at 31 Trinity Place

Trinity Church was designed by the nationally important architect James Renwick, whose designs include those for Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and The Smithsonian “Castle” in Washington D.C. A small and simple church, Trinity has been abandoned for many years, but its size and simplicity could lead to its preservation -- as both lend themselves more readily to a positive alternative use. 
 
• Row of Five Wood Framed Houses at Franklin and Fourth (ca.1850)

This row of identical houses represents the last remaining examples in the city of a building type that was once common throughout the city; the wood frame workers tenement. These buildings are important not just due to there rarity, but also due to there architectural interest as excellent example of a somewhat quirky pared-down Greek Revival Style. All of the houses are currently abandoned, but are in fairly good condition and each, though a small house, would make a good-sized apartment.
 
• Third Precinct Police Station (North Pearl Street)

This brick building with white glazed terra cotta ornament is a fine example of the work of Albany architect Walter Van Guysling. Van Guysling’s better known works include the R.B. Wing Building and the Hudson River Day Line Ticket Office (which used to be L’Auberge, and is now Hudson Harbor Restaurant). The building is currently boarded up, but stands adjacent to one of Albany’s most successful adaptive reuses, a former public school building converted and renamed The Quackenbush Apartments. Hopefully the Third Precinct Station is awaiting a similar transformation.
 
• Brick Queen-Anne Mansion at 755 Madison Avenue

This building has stood vacant for many years, but contains a largely intact historic interior. The exterior exhibits a number of high Victorian Gothic details; most noticeably a carved bluestone column that supports the entry porch. Its design is attributed to the prolific Albany architect Albert Fuller. It was constructed in 1889. At one time the owner of the building was interested in tearing it down, but then-Mayor Thomas Whelan so admired the building on his daily commute to city hall that he used his influence to prevent its demolition. The building is still awaiting reuse, but is one of the gems of early Pine Hills development, and could be converted to a number of uses.
 
• 400 Broadway (now a book store)

The building at 400 Broadway is part of Plaza Row, immediately across the street from the D&H Building. Its largely late nineteenth century facade belies the fact that the building dates to the late eighteenth century and was built as one of a pair of commercial structures  in the heart of the oldest section of the city. A few years ago its mate was torn down to make way for a parking lot. 400 Broadway’s late nineteenth century facade is an important contributing feature of Plaza Row. Its location along an intact row of historic buildings on one of Albany’s most important thoroughfares, along with its great age and interesting facade, make this an important Albany building.