HISTORIC ALBANY FOUNDATION RECEIVES $1.7 MILLION FOR RESTORATION OF THE OLDEST HOUSE IN ALBANY

HISTORIC ALBANY FOUNDATION RECEIVES $1.7 MILLION FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE OLDEST HOUSE IN ALBANY

(April 27, 2023 Albany, NY)  Historic Albany Foundation is pleased to announce that it has received two grants totaling $1.7 million dollars to restore the oldest house in Albany, the Van Ostrande-Radliff House located at 48 Hudson Avenue in downtown Albany.

HAF has been awarded a $500,000 National Endowment for the Humanities Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant. HAF was one of twenty-four recipients, just ten in New York State, who can leverage federal funds to spur non-federal support for capital construction, renovation projects, and physical and digital capacity-building at cultural institutions, including 48 Hudson Avenue.  HAF has already received the matching non-federal funds through a previously announced $500,000 grant from the New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.  The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is an independent federal agency created in 1965. It is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. NEH grants typically go to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, and radio stations, and to individual scholars. 

In Addition, HAF has received a $1,226,000 grant through the New York State Council on the Arts Infrastructure and Capacity Building program.  NYSCA’s Capital Projects Fund focuses on supporting cultural institutions seeking state funding for investments in capital improvements that allow the organizations to sustain and expand cultural programming for diverse audiences, promote accessibility and environmental sustainability, preserve and create jobs, and ultimately contribute to the growth of New York’s arts and tourism sectors. HAF was eligible to apply for these funds as a recipient of NYSCA’s annual general operating support.

Board president Matt Malette stated, “I am so very pleased that Historic Albany Foundation has received a $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) but also a $1,226,000 grant from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to aid in the restoration of 48 Hudson Avenue, the oldest remaining building in the city of Albany. Knowing how incredibly difficult it is to win, not one, but both of these grants shows a great amount of dedication and determination from members of our staff and board that I'll be forever thankful for. It also sends an incredible vote of confidence from both the state and federal levels of government that they believe that this urban jewel is also worth saving. We are beyond honored and humbled to be able to continue one of the largest projects in Historic Albany's near-50-year history”

With these two awards, Historic Albany has now received the anticipated grant funds needed to restore the building.  The remaining funds will come through the sale of $945,000 of rehabilitation tax credits that the organization cannot take advantage of being a non-profit.

Historic Albany Foundation is a private, not-for-profit membership organization that promotes the preservation and appreciation of the built environment in and around the city of Albany.  Since 1974, the Foundation has fulfilled its mandate through public education, promotion, and membership, provision of design and technical assistance, community projects, advocacy for endangered buildings, publications, tours lectures, and operation of an architectural parts warehouse.

Kenwood FAQs

Why didn't HAF list the building(s)?

Individual Listing
For individual listings, the owner of the property must consent to listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Historic Albany encouraged the Society of the Sacred Heart to list the property so it was eligible for the NYS and Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credits. However, they were not receptive and would not consent to the listing.

Local Listing
Local listing does not require owner consent, however, the owner is able to comment either for or against the listing at the public hearings before the Historic Resources Commission and the Common Council, which ultimately approves all local listings. There is an established precedent that local listings with owner opposition have not gone forward to become local landmarks or historic districts. Local listing provides the most protection for a historic property, requiring anything done to the exterior of the building that is visible from the public right of way to receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Resources Commission.

In 2019 Historic Albany discussed local listing with the City of Albany Planning Department. The listing did not proceed as only a portion of the steeple for the main building and gatekeeper’s cottage on South Pearl Street was visible from a public right of way. The road connecting South Pearl and Route 9 is a private road and does not constitute a public right of way. Historic Albany Foundation explored conservation districts to see if this could be an avenue that provided protection in lieu of historic district listing. There were no precedents or examples that Historic Albany Foundation could identify that could be used as a model for a conservation district on the property.

What does listing mean?

Individual Listing
Listing on the National Register of Historic Places is mostly honorary. Listing on the National Register of Historic Places cannot stop a private owner from demolishing or doing something inappropriate to their building. National Register listing DOES make the building eligible for the Federal and NYS Rehabilitation Tax Credits (NYS also requires the building(s) to be in a qualifying census tract). National Register listing DOES trigger review by the State Historic Preservation Office for any alterations to the building inside and out, including demolition, for any alterations that utilize state or federal funding. National Register listing and determinations of eligibility DO make redevelopment actions a Type 1 action for State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR), meaning that any developer for the property would have to complete a full environmental review assessment which would be submitted to the Planning Board to determine if there would be an adverse effect to the historic resource.

Local Listing
Listing as a local historic district means that any work being done on a property that is visible from the public right of way must have a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Resources Commission (HRC). The HRC reviews all demolition applications for properties in local historic districts. The Planning Board reviews all demolition applications for properties not in local historic districts within the City of Albany.

Emergency demolitions do not fall under the purview of any regulatory board.

Who pays to list the process and how much does it cost?

There is no fee to list a property on the National Register of Historic Places, HOWEVER, a detailed nomination would need to be compiled, which is often the work of skilled consultants. A consultant can be hired to do a nomination by the owner or a third party. HOWEVER, if a third party pays for and submits a National Register nomination for an individual landmark, the owner MUST consent to listing as a part of the process. If the nomination is for a historic district, there cannot be opposition to the district from more than 50% of the owners of the properties within the district.

Costs for nominations vary depending on the size of the property, number of buildings, amount of research done, the amount of research needed to be done, etc. A nomination for a single, well-documented house may be a few thousand dollars. A nomination for large property with multiple buildings covering multiple periods of significance and a historic landscape can easily cost tens of thousands.

Who will pay for the demolition of Kenwood?

The owner of the property is billed in the case of emergency demolition. In this case, the owner on record, when determined, will be billed. If this goes unpaid at the end of the calendar year, the unpaid bill will become a lien on the property and go on the tax bill. If this goes unpaid, the property can end up in tax foreclosure with Albany County.

Who's responsible for this?

There are many parties that can claim a piece of the responsibility for the situation created at the Kenwood Estate/former Doane Stuart Campus - primarily Kenwood Commons LLC is responsible for the current deterioration of the building under their ownership.

Will we be salvaging from any of the buildings?

The mid-nineteenth century E-shaped building has been completely lost. However, the gatekeeper’s lodge and gardeners’ cottage from the original A.J. Davis designed estate (Kenwood), a mid-nineteenth century carriage house, an early 20th-century cobblestone smokehouse, an early 20th-century building, and mid-1970s building do remain. No plans for their demolition have been made. The original landscape designed by A. J. Downing for the Rathbone’s Kenwood estate is also intact. Doane Stuart alumni are working on salvaging bricks to share amongst former students.

What will happen to the other complex/land now?

The future of the land is undetermined as yet, but for HAFs next steps, see question 10.

Who owns the building now?

As of Friday, March 31, 2023, the entire property is still under the ownership of Kenwood Commons LLC.

If a building is owned privately, can the city do anything about neglectful owners?

The city can cite the owner for code violations for the building’s condition when violations are observed through inspections, being out and about, or from being reported on platforms like See Click Fix. If the owner does not correct the cited issues, the case is sent to codes court. The codes court process takes approximately one year to be heard. In that time, the violations continue to go uncorrected. Once the case is heard, the owners may be fined and ordered to correct the violations. This does not ensure that the violations are corrected.

If taxes, and/or water bills are not paid, the county can begin the foreclosure process. This process takes multiple years and does not have any effect on the building’s maintenance during this time. Once foreclosed on, most buildings are transferred to the Albany County Land Bank to be processed and put up for sale.

What are the next steps for HAF?

HAF is working to create a task force with the City of Albany to identify, improve, and implement proactive solutions to stop buildings from getting into a vacant and/or deteriorated condition. We are also looking at the current vacant buildings to see what approaches can be effective in the many different situations that exist among them.

What can I do to support the preservation of buildings like Kenwood?

Support the local listing nominations at public hearings for the Historic Resources Commission and Common Council. You can also report any code violations you see to the city and call Historic Albany Foundation (518 465 0876) if you see any worrying things happening to vacant/historic buildings.

Kenwood - A Timeline of the Past 15 Years

Timeline on Kenwood / Sacred Heart Convent / Former Doane Stuart School

A timeline of the past 15 years includes*:

2007

Doane Stuart School fails to reach an agreement to purchase the campus from the Sisters of the Sacred Heart

2009

Doane Stuart School relocates to Rensselaer

Michael Cleary makes an offer then backs out

Property listed for sale again as developable land, notes the buildings could be demolished

2010

HAF lists on the Endangered Historic Resources List, Preservation League of New York State list on Seven to Save

Michael Cleary makes an offer again

2012

HAF hosts Davis Downing Symposium to draw attention to the architecture

2014

Mike Cleary attempts to put a project together, the sale does not go through

New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation  tours building as part of the initial phases for listing the building on the National Register, process stops when the developer walks away from the project;

2015

A hospitality developer from New Jersey and another developer attempt to put projects together, but come to nothing;

Sonny Bonacio attempts to purchase Kenwood, then withdraws his plans for a $30 million, 125-luxury apartment project

2016

An anonymous developer attempts to purchase Kenwood

2017
Kenwood Commons, LLC owned by CEO Sandy Schaefer purchases Kenwood for $18 million

2018
Kenwood Commons, LLC proposes to develop a $500 million massive project on the 75-acre property including 13 apartment buildings with 1,700+ apartments, two hotels totaling 575 rooms, six clusters of townhomes totaling 305 units, in addition to retail and public space that would include an art gallery and amphitheater.

Kenwood Commons sues the City of Albany in an Article 78 proceeding filed with the Supreme Court in Albany County challenging the need for Planning Board review of its building permit application.

2019

Kenwood Commons, LLC project stops work and walks away as the developer owes millions of dollars in loan debt, overdue taxes, and $600,000 in contractor services to at least 15 businesses.  It is interesting to note that the project did not seek tax breaks through the Albany Industrial Development Agency, nor did it acquire historic tax credits, which left financing up to developers.

Lender begins foreclosure proceedings on $5 million loan to Kenwood Commons, LLC.

HAF meets with the City of Albany Planning Department to request Kenwood be listed as a local historic site.  Unfortunately, this request was not granted due to the condition that a property needs to be seen from a public roadway or street, and Kenwood is located on a private road.

Kenwood Commons listed for sale for $60 million amid back taxes and contractor liens

2020

The City of Albany boards up windows and doors left open to the elements by Kenwood Commons, LLC for a cost of $42,000, which will be added to the current outstanding tax bill of over $2 million. 

2023

Ongoing … The City of Albany continues to monitor and re-board the buildings, kicking out teenagers and squatters.  

January 11:  HAF meets with Rick LaJoy and Sam Wells from the City of Albany about vacant buildings in general and discusses getting a group of investors and others together to find a solution for Kenwood, a la Central Warehouse.

March 23rd:  Kenwood burns.  Investigation is ongoing.  

For additional information on the history of this important property, please visit, https://friendsofalbanyhistory.wordpress.com/2018/04/27/kenwood-and-the-convent-of-the-sacred-heart-in-albany/

*This may not be an exhaustive list of attempted buyers and projects

Historic Albany Foundation Statement on the Devastating Fire at the Kenwood Convent

We are heartbroken at the destruction of the Kenwood Convent to a devastating fire.

The Albany Fire Department, Police Department, and other first responders, who remain on the still smoldering site, worked heroically and at great personal risk to control the fire which had already engulfed the building. Their service reminds us of the personal cost and threat posed by the irresponsible actions and inaction of this property owner.

Irresponsible property owners are the recurring theme in Albany’s struggle against abandoned buildings and the loss of historic structures and neighborhoods. In the case of Kenwood, many failed sales and planned development projects have left this property vacant since 2009. The current owner, when beginning the development project, removed windows and doors for future replacement, but abandoned the project, leaving the main building open to the elements which led to significant deterioration. Despite the City’s best efforts to board up and monitor these privately owned buildings, they were plagued by vandals and squatters. Its Isolated location and the lack of any smoke alarms or security system made the buildings an easy target for those determined to get in.

In short, what comes next? Historic Albany Foundation is committed to forming a working group with the City of Albany, neighborhood associations, additional preservation groups, and other interested parties to improve approaches to the treatment and monitoring of vacant buildings and threatened historic communities. We will also be working to help shape the future of Kenwood, including both the remaining structures and the historic landscape.

Several Historic Albany representatives were on the site this morning. It is difficult to describe the devastation we witnessed and the deep sense of loss we shared with those who were there. Over the years, we have worked hard to change, create and influence the practices and policies that should preserve the built history of our city. Our commitment to this has only been reinforced by this loss and the ones that have preceded it.