Editorial First published: Monday, April 2, 2001

Albany: Past and Future

Mayor Jennings sets a welcome priority on preserving the city's heritage

The recent discovery of the remains of an 18th-century rum distillery seems to have done what no other previous archaeological finding had done for Albany -- wake officials to the need for a comprehensive policy for preserving artifacts from the city's Dutch and English past. 

Just a week ago, this page was lamenting Albany's two-faced approach to preservation. On the one hand, it recognized the need to protect the priceless Pine Bush from runaway development. But at the same time, the Albany Parking Authority was proceeding with plans to bury the distillery's remains and build a garage over them.

But now things are changing. To begin with, two prominent businessmen, George McNamee and Alan Goldberg, both of First Albany Corp., have put up $40,000 toward the estimated $50,000 cost of extricating and preserving 18 wooden distillery vats, unearthed just south of Quackenbush Square during a pre-construction archaeological dig.

Just as encouraging, Mayor Jerry Jennings has named a University at Albany professor, Michael R. Werner, as an unpaid consultant to the city's efforts to develop a comprehensive archaeological strategy. That plan calls for a living museum to house the artifacts already uncovered at other digs, as well as preserving as much as possible from future construction sites. With the amount of available construction space fast running out in much of the city, the riverfront remains one area with a vast potential for development. But it is also likely to yield far more treasures of the past as new sites are prepared, and the city desperately needs to have a sound policy for preserving and displaying as much of its history as possible.

Finally, Mr. Jennings has proposed that an Albany Redevelopment Authority be established to attract private investment, revitalize the waterfront and preserve neighborhoods. The authority would be one of four -- Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo also are seeking authorities of their own -- that require enabling legislation from the state, together with a combined $100 million in state seed money over the next four years.

This page has previously endorsed such an approach, and Gov. George Pataki should urge state lawmakers to pass the requisite legislation. An authority would be an invaluable asset in Albany's plan to re-create old Fort Orange, the city's 1624 Dutch settlement, and transform it into a tourist attraction along the river. And now the mayor is talking about possibly unearthing the remains of the earlier Fort Nassau, a trading post built near the site now occupied by the Port of Albany.

All of a sudden, it seems, Albany officials are finding that much of the reason why the city's future holds such promise is because of its past. Having criticized Mr. Jennings on previous occasions for failing to recognize such potential, it is gratifying to praise him now for leading the way.