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Historic Resources Commission approves demolition of 45 2nd Avenue with documentation and salvage conditions
Summary
Facing extensive foundation failure and high rehab costs, the Albany County Land Bank received HRC approval to demolish 45 2nd Avenue; approval requires photographic documentation, coordination with Historic Albany Foundation for debris diversion, and a good‑faith plan to salvage and store the building cornice for future reuse.
The Historic Resources Commission voted to allow the Albany County Land Bank to demolish the long‑vacant building at 45 2nd Avenue in the South and Rosebeckville Historic District, subject to conditions requiring thorough documentation and salvage efforts.
The Land Bank’s development specialist, Jason Jaqueline, told commissioners the property was acquired in 2019 and that a structural assessment (CT Veil) found the front foundation leaning toward the street and a crumbling concrete wall at the rear. “The main concern from the CT Veil report is really the foundation walls,” Jaqueline said, adding that earlier bid prices and further investigative work showed the building would require extensive first‑ and second‑floor renovations as well as basement foundation work.
Commissioners heard that past CDBG/CARES funding for nearby 48 and 52 2nd Avenue projects amounted to about $1,000,000 and that the Land Bank used those funds to renovate the other properties. Staff and applicants said a base renovation bid was $725,000 (not including basement rebuilding) and that a realistic full stabilization and repair package could approach $800,000. By contrast, Land Bank staff estimated demolition costs around $60,000–$75,000.
City planning staff recommended approval only if the applicant documented the building fully for the city record and pursued salvage and debris‑diversion with Historic Albany Foundation. “If the historic resources commission does choose to approve the demolition, staff would recommend that the applicant be required to properly document and photograph the structure…including site narratives, architectural descriptions, and photographs of all the sides visible from the public right‑of‑way,” a staff member told the commission.
A public commenter, William, spoke in favor of demolition because the building has been vacant for about 20 years but urged careful salvage of the cornice and photographic documentation to preserve the building’s historic elements for reuse. “The cornice…should be salvaged,” he said, asking for detailed floor plans and high‑quality photographic documentation if demolition proceeds.
Commissioner (speaker 2) moved to approve the demolition with three conditions: (1) documentation as described by staff; (2) preservation of potential historic interior elements for salvage where feasible; and (3) a good‑faith plan from the Land Bank exploring careful salvage and storage of the cornice, with the Land Bank to return to the HRC with findings. Lynette Terrence seconded the motion. The commission called the vote and the motion carried.
Next steps: staff said they will retain their own photographic record and follow up with the Land Bank about salvage logistics and debris‑diversion arrangements. The applicant indicated it will coordinate salvage storage and return to HRC with more detail on feasibility and costs.
