News
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
| Contacts | Elizabeth
Griffin 518-465-0876 cell: 518-528-3599 |
Jim
Cohen President, Board of Directors 518-433-9394 |
Attn: Editors Photo of Elizabeth Griffin credit Leif Zurmuhlen |
Historic
Albany Foundation
Seeks New Executive Director
Seeks New Executive Director
ALBANY, July 15, 2005 -- Historic Albany Foundation announced that its Executive Director, Eli
zabeth Griffin, is resigning after seven years at the helm of Albany’s leading preservation organization. Ms. Griffin will leave the Executive Director’s post in September, 2005.
Ms. Griffin became Executive Director of the Foundation in 1997. During her tenure, the Foundation has grown from 200 members to close to 700. Under her leadership, the Foundation undertook a number of new preservation and advocacy efforts, including: the stabilization and reuse of the former Architectural Parts Warehouse at 399 South Pearl Street and the former residence of Governor Yates at 96 Madison Avenue; stopping demolition of the 5-bay, pre-Civil War façade at 41 Ten Broeck Street; and the stabilization of St. Joseph’s Church. The Foundation was also instrumental in returning the former residence of Martin Van Buren at111-113 State Street to habitability; issuing a request for proposals for the successful renovation of two derelict townhouses at 174-176 Jay Street; and saving School 10 from being razed.
The Foundation also made great strides in raising public awareness of Albany’s glut of vacant buildings with an eye toward their reuse instead of demolition. After realizing that many of the Foundation’s advocacy issues related directly to the problem of abandoned buildings, Ms. Griffin negotiated an agreement with graduate students from the University at Albany’s Department of Geography and Planning. Working with neighborhood volunteers under the direction of Dr. Catherine Lawson, students canvassed Albany neighborhoods block-by-block in October and November 2002, and information about each of more than 700 vacant buildings was recorded.
“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,” stated James Cohen, AIA, President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. “The board and membership of the Foundation, and arguably the entire city of Albany, 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. Albany’s architectural heritage would be greatly diminished but for her efforts. We will miss her and we wish her much continued success.”
The Foundation has launched a search for a new Executive Director, with information available on the web site at www.historic-albany.org.
“We are pleased that Elizabeth will continue to be involved with the Foundation, focusing her efforts on the St. Joseph’s Capital Campaign and stabilization project,” said Matthew Bender, who chaired the Re-Use Committee for the Arbor Hill landmark church which the Foundation took title to in June, 2003. “The Foundation is still obligated to raise some $200,000 in matching funds against a $300,000 stabilization grant received from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in June, 2003, and we are looking forward to Elizabeth’s continued participation in this effort.”
“This was a very difficult decision for me,” said Ms. Griffin. “I have been with the Foundation for nearly 10 years – counting 2 years as a volunteer at the Parts Warehouse – and have watched it grow into one of the most innovative preservation organizations in the country.”
When asked what she hoped would be remembered about her tenure, Ms. Griffin replied, “I think my most important legacy is the partnerships that have been established between the Foundation, the larger preservation community, policy makers, and neighborhood residents. We have secured a seat at the table when decisions are made about Albany’s built environment, and have played a role in important planning initiatives like the Arbor Hill Plan. While I am looking forward to new challenges, I will always hold Historic Albany Foundation close to my heart.”
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Architectural Parts Warehouse
89 Lexington Avenue
Albany, NY 12206
518/465-0876
www.historic-albany.org