The Founding of Rapp Road & Tour of Wilborn Temple

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Join us on Thursday February 27th to explore the story behind the Rapp Road Historic District. This group of over 20 houses (located near Albany Pine Bush) is truly unique not only in Albany, but also in the state and the country.

During the Great Migration from Mississippi the families who built Rapp Road chose to buy rural land and start from scratch, instead of staying in the South End. The resulting "Southern style shotgun homes" make up the current Historic District. This community and architecture is truly one of a kind, with the majority of homes still being owned by the original families and their descendants.

The Rapp Road Association will present these stories about their rich history at this special event - preceded by a tour of Wilborn Temple. The Temple was founded in the height of The Great Migration in the 1930's and has continued to serve the community ever since.

Buy your tickets here: http://bit.ly/2OLm15J

$5 HAF Members / $10 General Public. Use the ticket link to purchase, or email info@historic-albany.org or call 518-465-0876 to reserve a spot.

"(Rap Road is )Albany’s only African American focused historic district and a part of the 3 percent of all National Register listings that celebrates African American heritage". - Rapp Road Association Website

"the historic Rapp Road community is a treasure-chest of local history" - Dave Lucas WAMC article

The City Tackles Vacant Housing & Code Enforcement with New Grant

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The City of Albany has been awarded a grant of $1,000,000 which will focus on many different areas to combat and help solve some of the problem associated with vacant housing and code enforcement.

The grant will be used to implement the following:

  •  Mow to Own Program – A program that allows local residents to own vacant lots after showing they can take care of them for a year with no issues

  • 6-8 Pro-Active Demolitions – Following research by Harvard University on actions to reduce blight & gun violence, the City will acquire and proactively demolish 6-8 properties with community input and regulatory approvals

  • Good Neighbor School – An educational program to provide tenants & landlords with education and access to resources to improve the landlord-tenant relationship, in partnership with tenant & landlord groups

  •  An additional attorney to find property owners who are not complying with code violations and collect upon the judgments the City wins in housing court

  • Housing Services Advocate – a person to be hired to be a neutral third party for landlords and tenants in assisting them with education and accessing resources

  • Deep Dive Block Program – A program where the city brings City Departments and outside partners to specific blocks for a few hours to work and connect with residents to address their issues

  • Estate Planning Program – A program that identifies and proactively reaches out to at-risk senior property owners for end-of-life discussions about their property. Simple wills will be drawn up for those who need them to ensure the property does not become vacant upon their passing

 Not funded by the grant, but promised by the City in the application:

  •    Proactive Inspections using data-driven approaches

  •  Vacant Building Registry Improvements

  •  Amendments to the City’s Rental Dwelling Registry legislation

  •   Distribution of a Renters’ Bill of Rights, and other education materials on the Landlord-Tenant relationship

HVCC Masonry Course Open

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Every day is an opportunity to learn something new!

This January join the Historic Masonry Course and learn hands-on training in the traditional trade of masonry restoration - including documentation, cleaning, pointing, repairing and coatings.

This course will run on Tuesday evenings from the 21st of Jan at the STEAM Garden in Albany, as well as some Saturdays.

Office of Workforce Development, Hudson Valley Community College
https://www.facebook.com/events/561852677993407/

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