Fort Orange Club


By DIA, Section News
Posted on Wed May 07, 2008 at 07:24:26 AM EST

The ISSUE: Should we let the Fort Orange Club tear down more occupied buildings to make life easier for rich out-of-towners. Oddly enough, the TU weighed in on this and actually says it is a bad idea.
The buildings at 118-120 Washington Ave. appear sound and are by no means unattractive. They're currenty used for office space. They're not among the 800 or so abandoned or dilapidated structures that city leaders tolerated for too long. Nor is the apparent lack of parking at a club for Albany's power elite among the city's more daunting problems.

The city Planning Board was wrong to conclude that turning these buildings into parking spaces, even landscaped ones, wouldn't have a negative environmental impact. The Zoning Board of Appeals was wise to table the club's request.

This is a time for people who truly ought to know better to think again. So much has changed since the club prevailed in demolishing an adjacent Arts and Crafts style building to provide more parking in 1982. The world has awakened to the crisis posed by carbon dioxide emissions -- from motor vehicles, among other sources. Gas prices have soared, and urban transportation is no longer so dominated by the automobile culture.

The Fort Orange Club might consider encouraging more of its membership -- which has long included some Times Union executives -- to walk, bike, car pool or take public transportation to its private sanctuary. It could secure parking at nearby lots and garages. It could arrange for valet parking, or provide shuttle service to where members leave their cars.

The fact that the club is an asset to the city isn't a reason for it to act irresponsibly. It's instead reason for it to demonstrate vision and leadership.

Those buildings should stay right where they are.
There also was an article yesterday.

Personally I think it is ridiculous to tear down perfectly good occupied buildings to make more parking for the city's elites. However, since the decision ultimately rests with the mayor's appointed zoning board and appointed planning board, I bet they tear the buildings down. Past performance from these puppets would indicate this is what will happen. The Mayor holds his fundraisers at the Fort Orange club.

On a side note, the TU's editorial board seemed to have let their passion for the buildings cloud their senses. "It's instead reason for it to demonstrate vision and leadership." Vision and leadership? From the Jennings' adminstration? While we are making wishes, how about I just say I hope 787 disappears tomorrow and we have nice river front access. I'd say the odds are even on either of those scenarios happening.

Kudos for using the term "the city's power elite". I'll steal that for future rants.

Double kudos for suggesting anyone at the Fort Orange club would ever take a bus. Now that is funny stuff.

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Fort Orange Club | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
Fort Orange Club, University Club.... (none / 0) (#1)
by hawkny on Thu May 08, 2008 at 05:51:07 PM EST
These elitist enterprises are oh so passe...They should go the way of Albany's neighborhood pharmacies....far, far away....

These properties are most likely (none / 0) (#2)
by Jim Travers on Fri May 09, 2008 at 03:14:36 PM EST
early 19th century buildings which have been remodeled and have had their facades dramatically altered over the many years.

I remember well the Arts & Crafts building the Club demolished in order to create seven parking spaces. It was a very fine example of this style of architecture and its demolition a great lose to our City. Truly, it was the only specimen of its type in our city, at least to my knowledge.

I've pasted below local historian John Wolcott's statement which was submitted to the ZBA. My only edit was re-formating it to make it easier to read.

I first met John in 1975 while doing an archaeological survey and dig at the Quackenbush House.

"To the Albany Zoning Board of Appeals:

I wish to voice utmost and absolute objection to the Fort Orange Club's application to demolish the buildings at 118-120 Washington Avenue in Albany.  

It is bad enough that there has been an overplus of building demolitions in Albany for many years with the reason usually being claimed that such buildings are to far deteriorated to repair, and constitute a public danger. In the case now before you, this claim cannot possibly be made.  

There is no reason for this application other than to satisfy the collectively seff centered desires of the Fort Orange members to have more parking.  

This Club is focused on priviledge and prestige and class distinction. Their early year books describe their members as " top draw" among Albany citizens.  I don't think so when I see things like this application.  

They have always expected to be kow-towed to, and  shown deference in all things.  In this case they expect to be shown privilege over and against the best interests of the community at large.  

That's exactly what happened about 25 years ago when they applied to demolish that nice arts and crafts building, which, unfortunately, was next to them.  They have enough privileged parking from that and don't need or deserve any more.  

Let them come down off their high horse and show some social and environmental responsibility.

Why shouldn't they walk or take a bus like many of us.  Who in Sam Hill do they think they are?

Here we are in the  middle of  National Earth Week and what is this board doing but contemplating something anti-urban and anti- environmental. Cannibal businesses.

Government Offices and private organizations are contributing to de-urbanizing our city by demolitions all over for parking for themselves. This process should cease.  It perpetuates anti-urban, anti-environmental sprawl and facilitates it.  

Bus riding, walking and cycling, and moving into town desperately needs to promoted everywhere now, more than ever, because of global warming in addition to the other concerns cited.  

I don't wish to see  anymore added parking in Albany and think we should adopt the Portland Oregon policy of reverse taxation for the city core.    

Are you going to approve this destructive move or will you honor yourselves and honor our city, and support the environment and re-urbanization by denying this application?

John Wolcott"

Fort Orange Club | 2 comments (2 topical, 0 hidden)
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