The first two weeks of January 1961 had been a whirlwind. Governor Rockefeller’s notice of his general desire to “improve” Albany and the Mayor’s revelation of his specific plans for the City caused a quite a stir. The rest of the month would be equally as newsworthy. Additionally, the face of Albany was changing, independent from urban redevelopment and renewal. New road and highway construction was moving at warp speed. Old buildings that had stood for years anchoring parts of neighborhoods had reached the end of their useful lives and were being demolished. High rise housing projects were almost completed in the South End and “slum clearance:” was moving ahead in North Albany.
On January 17, the Common Council authorized $250,000 to obtain rights to build the “Crosstown Arterial Highway”. Additionally the State was planning to build the “Slingerlands Bypass”. Construction of the State Office Campus, well underway off Washington Ave., and the planned construction of the new University site next door on Washington Ave., made these 2 highway construction projects more important to increase access to both the Campus and University sites.
January 17, 1961
People began dreaming the impossible dream. There were thoughts of riverfront development. Pretty much an impossibility as as the riverfront arterial was being constructed, cutting off access to the Hudson. But why let reality intrude?
In an address to a local American Legion post, Gene Robb, publisher of the Albany Knickerbocker News, proposed building a new Capitol on the Hudson River. And if that was not possible, why not a state museum, civic center or peace memorial, he conjectured. He said that this was the first time in recent history that residents, merchants, the city and the state all had an interest in re-development. He also indicated that additional resources would be necessary and suggested a sales tax for Albany!
Dear Nelson
On January 18, the other shoe dropped. Mayor Corning sent a “Dear Nelson” letter to Governor Rockefeller in which he proposed a permanent.. not temporary, joint city/state committee to deal with on-going state and city issues Nelson’s spokesperson responded to the Mayor’s letter by side stepping the request and saying that Albany still needed a “comprehensive plan”.
January 18, 1961
January 18, 1961
Dear Erastus
Ever the gentleman, Governor Rockefeller replied to the Mayor’s letter on January 18th. In his letter of response he thanks the Mayor for his welcome words about the Temporary State Commission and ignores the Mayor’s request for a permanent joint state/city committee on state and city issues. In his letter he also stresses the need for a “comprehensive plan” for Albany. (The implication is that the two year old study magically produced by the Mayor on the heels of the Governor’s announcement of HIS plans for Albany was neither a plan nor comprehensive.)
No More Rent Control in Albany…..self-deportation
Yet another master stroke. On January 20th, the State Rent Commission proclaimed that it would be ending rent control (in place since World War II) in Albany since a recent housing survey had demonstrated that the housing shortage had “abated”. (Seriously? I can’t stop laughing.) Every other report indicated dangerous over crowding in Albany!! Why that was part of the rationale for urban renewal !
Rent controls had already been eliminated on one family single homes and two family homes. In 1957, the City had been offered the option to remove rent controls, but had declined. Hmmm
The timing of this decision could not be better. Decontrol rents on multiple unit dwellings and you have a partial answer to at least one problem. Most of the multiple unit buildings were located in lower income areas. Those were the areas slated for “urban renewal”. Take away rent controls and tenants would be looking for alternative housing. There were really only two choices. They could move into the low income, high rise housing projects constructed by the city and for which there had not been great demand. Or they could move out of the area. If tenants moved out, there were 2 options; move outside of Albany or stay within the city limits.
A move outside Albany was possible, but not likely. In 1961 most of the jobs were still located within the city. Many lower income persons did not own cars and depended on buses to get around. Public transportation outside the city was poor at best and in the worst case, no existent. Nor were the many apartment options outside of the city, and single family housing was out of the financial reach of most current tenants of multiple dwelling units. So a move uptown, but still within the city, was most likely.
One way or another, many of the units in the multiple unit buildings would be vacated. Win/Win for urban renewal. There would be fewer families to displace through eminent domain when the property was seized. AND, vacant units in a multiple unit dwelling meant the property would be worth less when it was purchased to make room for urban renewal activities. Eliminating rent control really would be the impetus for “self-deportation”.
Albany Muskrat 