Public Hearing for the Proposed Washington Avenue Corridor Historic District

The proposed district will make over 280 buildings along and just off of Washington Avenue and Western Avenues eligible for the NYS and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits.

HAF has been working on this district for over 10 years and is hopeful that later in the year it will officially be listed on both the New York State and National Register. Note that HAF is not seeking local listing.

We encourage you to support Albany's newest historic district by attending the public hearing of the Historic Resources Commission at 5:30pm on Wednesday, August 7th at 200 Henry Johnson Boulevard in the Second Floor Community Room or by sending a letter of support.

Letters can be emailed to Erin Glennon at eglennon@albanyny.gov and addressed to:

John Myers, Chair

Historic Resources Commission

Planning Department

200 Henry Johnson Boulevard

Albany, NY 12210

This is a huge benefit for Albany and hopefully the beginning of more National Register historic districts to come. We appreciate your support!

For more information about the above, click here

Melville Fever Sweeps Albany

Part of the Capital Walls project, tucked behind Quackenbush Square is a new mural that commemorates the classic novel Moby Dick. Did you know it’s author, Helmin Melville, had a connection with this very city & attended Albany Academy?

It’s a topic we’ve often discussed at our White Whale Wednesdays, Moby Dick Book Club . Want to know more about this popular monthly event? Click here.

Albany NY Historic Preservation Plan

What Is a Historic Preservation Plan?

The City adopted The Comprehensive Plan in 2012 and a new Zoning Ordinance in 2017. It is now time for Albany to have a Historic Preservation Plan that addresses the historic character of the City, and the ordinances and practices that protect and enhance them.

Preservation planning is the rational, systematic process by which a community develops a vision, goals, and priorities for the preservation of its historic and cultural resources. The goal of Albany's Historic Preservation Plan is to strengthen the City’s existing preservation policies, ordinances, and program (Historic Resources Commission and Preservation Planning Staff). This will be accomplished by reviewing and editing the current policies, creating practical new policies, and developing achievable goals for improving the historic resources review process to further preservation ethic within the community.

This Planning Process Has Already Begun...
The City's consultant firm, the Lakota Group, held five open houses throughout the City last week to begin to get feedback for the plan.

How To Be Involved
We know that you all have lots of wonderful thoughts and ideas to share and want your voices to be heard. The materials from the open houses is available on the website created for the plan. An online survey is also available the site. We encourage everyone to participate! Take a look at the materials, complete the survey, and send feedback. The consultant firm is currently taking comments through a comment box on the site.

You can also sign on the above site to receive emails about the process, as well as the upcoming open house to be scheduled in August.

Historic Albany's Role
Cara Macri from our staff is on the steering committee working with the City and the consultant to ensure our concerns are heard. Our staff and board are attending public meetings. Historic Albany has met with the consultant in a stake holder session and will be submitting written comments on the process and content. Stay tuned for more updates on the plan - steering committee meetings are open to the public. You may attend and observe.

Click Here to Take the Survey