48 Hudson Update!

Phase I and II Complete!
Earlier this fall, exterior masonry work was done on the east and west walls of 48 Hudson, closing out our first Environmental Protection Fund grant from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation for $268,000.  Ganem Contracting, our masonry contractor was able to use new bricks that are in keeping with the size, shape and color of the original bricks on the 1840’s addition. The earlier phases included the foundation and H - bent restoration. These were completed in 2020.
 
Roof and Façade to Undergo Transformations in 2023
Having completed Phases I and II and the and finishing the previous grant cycle from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, we are now embarking on our new $500,000 round of grant funding that will allow us to raise the 1728 roof back to its original Dutch pitch, and to restore the façade to its original look as an early 18th century Dutch home.  We will be going out to bid in the spring anticipating work to begin mid-summer 2023.
 
HSR Update 
In addition to the physical construction project going on at 48 Hudson, we are also working on a Historic Structures Report with John G. Waite Associates and Mt. Ida Press.  A historic structures report (HSR) provides documentary, graphic, and physical information about a property's history and existing condition. Broadly recognized as an effective part of preservation planning, a HSR also addresses management or owner goals for the use or re-use of the property.  It provides a thoughtfully considered argument for selecting the most appropriate approach to treatment and outlines a scope of recommended work. 

The research that has taken place on 48 Hudson that will be contained in our HSR will serve as an important guide for all changes made to the building during the ongoing stabilization and restoration project, as well as post-project maintenance procedures. The HSR for the Van Ostrande Radliff house will tell the story of those who lived and worked in the building, the evolution of the building itself from residential to commercial, the physical expansion of the building, as well as how the neighborhood around it has changed over the last three centuries. It is anticipated that the HSR will be completed in 2023 and will be available for purchase to the public. 

Tax Credits for 48! 
One of the more creative ways we will be raising capital for the completion of the project at 48 Hudson is through selling our tax credits.  The 48 Hudson Project qualifies for New York State and Federal rehabilitation tax credits, however, since HAF is a non-profit entity that doesn’t pay taxes, we can’t use them ourselves. To take advantage of these credits, we will be selling them.  In early 2023 HAF will be holding a series of informational meetings for potential investors who would like to purchase the tax credits.  These are available to anyone who pays federal and NYS income taxes and the minimum investment is low enough for anyone interested to participate. Stay tuned for more and please feel free to reach out if you are interested in learning more.

Dutch Cultural Exchange and Mathias Visit
Since 2019, HAF has been working on a cultural exchange program with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands to gain and share expertise on adaptive reuse and restoration. After years of planning, we hosted three week-long workshops with experts from the Albany region and the Netherlands working on the Van Ostrande-Radliff House and Van’t Lindenhoutmuseum in Nijmegen, Albany’s sister city. 

We made many new friends and gained so much knowledge and insight. From the workshops, we realized that the Van Ostrande-Radliff House is not just one of the few remaining Dutch buildings in Albany, but is really Albany’s witness building.  It has seen more of Albany’s history than anything else in the city. It was present when Benjamin Franklin presented the Albany Plan of Union (just a block away) and when John Wilkes Booth performed at the Albany Gaiety (Lincoln was in town at the time) both just around the corner. The Van Ostrande-Radliff House is really Albany’s building.

After the conclusion of our workshops, our partner at the Cultural Heritage Agency, Mathijs Witte, came to visit us at the end of October.  It was a delight to finally meet our friend in person. We toured many of the Albany sites that we talked about during the workshops including 48 Hudson. Mathijs ended his visit with us at BUILT, taking home a bit of Albany art to add to his collection. We look forward to working with the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands in the future on more exciting projects!