Historic Albany Foundation

SAVE THE HOWE LIBRARY WINDOWS!

February 29, 2008

Historic Albany Foundation Members & Friends,

Historic Albany has been working very diligently to advocate for the appropriate restoration of the Howe Library, located in the South End/Groesbeckville Historic District. The Howe is the only library in the Albany Public Library system that was constructed to be a library and is still used as one today . The building was constructed in 1928 and one of it's most character-defining features is its windows.

As many people know, the Library passed a referendum in February 2007 to renovate and/or build 5 branches. The Howe is scheduled to start rehabilitation on April 1, 2008.

While the Library Board is undertaking the much needed upgrade to our library facilities, as part of this scope of work they have unfortunately voted to replace the windows at the Howe. It is Historic Albany's opinion, that their decision goes against the US Department Secretary of Interior Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Properties. It is the responsibility of the New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to uphold the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards of Rehabilitation, which calls for repair not replacement.

HAF has done everything in their power to save these windows; we have provided repair information to the Library Board; gathered estimates from window and abatement contractors; provided Secretary of Interior's Standards of Rehabilitation and National Register and related energy efficiency information regarding repair versus replacement windows; and had countless conversations with members of the Board and commented publicly. We have also spoken to the Dormitory Authority (the project’s construction manager) CSArch (formerly named Collins & Scoville, the project’s architects) and SHPO.

As you may be aware, HAF was a co-sponsor of the nomination and successful listing of Wood Windows on the 2006 Preservation League of New York State's Seven to Save Endangered Resources List (www.preservenys.org/7S06_woodwindows.html) . This listing was meant to draw attention to the important part wood windows play in the appearance and character of a historic building, not to mention the needless landfilling of countless wood windows across the state from architectural gems just like the Howe Library.

The Library's projects will not go before City review.

It is for these reasons that we ask for your help in our effort by sending letters supporting the preservation of the Howe Library windows. Replacing these windows is against the Standards, it ruins the historic character of the building forever and is irreversible. Your letters may be the only way the Library Board will reconsider. Construction is scheduled to start on April 1, 2008 so please act fast!

Form letters can be found here. Send your letters of support to:

Albany Public Library Board of Trustees
c/o Mary Ellen O’Connor, President
Albany Public Library
161 Washington Avenue
Albany NY 12210

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To see the Library’s plan visit their website at http://www.albanypubliclibrary.org/facilities/

<>Please feel free contact me for more information or with questions.
Thank you for your continued support of our efforts to preserve and protect Albany’s built environment.

-Susan Holland

sholland@historic-albany.org