Albany Waterway Canal
Creating Opportunity with a Transformational Waterway System
February 3, 2025
WATERWAY RECEIVES FUNDING
FOR STUDY AIMED AT RECONNECTING THE
CANAL BASIN AND HUDSON RIVER AT LOCK ONE
The Albany Waterway, Inc. has been selected by the Advance Albany County Alliance and the Culture & Arts Advisory Council to receive an $85,000 grant to fund an engineering feasibility study to excavate and repurpose Lock One of the Erie Canal during it bicentennial year.
The study will focus on the area that historically was the point of connection with the Hudson River and where commercial boat traffic entered the Erie Canal, were assessed a toll, and proceed 363 miles westward to Buffalo, Lake Erie and beyond.
Advocates for redevelopment of Albany’s waterfront, have been pointing to the canal’s significance and infrastructure to serve as a catalyst for development. Their vision coincides with the demolition of the Central Warehouse, and the opportunity to repurpose open-space recreating where boats entered the Erie Canal through a weigh-lock and boat basin. An added benefit to the project are immediate links to downtown, the warehouse district, and North Albany.
B.J. Costello, Chairman of the Albany Waterway said: “Lock 1 is buried, only few feet below ground, but so many can see clearly, the potential that exists to uncover what is hidden, recognize its value, and allow the eastern terminus of the Erie Canal to play a prominent role in the revitalization of Albany – just as it did 200 years ago.”
The Erie Canal was opened October 26, 1825. The longest waterway of its kind at the time.
The Lock One project is an initial step of a multi-year vision inspired by noted artist Len Tantillo. According to Tantillo, “The Waterfront conversation is a growing dialogue. It is an idea that has matured, received significant public support and private stakeholder interest. It’s benefits including enhanced the local tax base, while balancing important environmental considerations.”
The Albany Waterway advanced its proposal for feasibility study funding to the Alliance, and it was chosen based on its alignment with its grantor’s mission to foster community engagement, promote cultural diversity, and stimulate economic growth within Albany County.
“We look forward to continued study of the feasibility of excavating Lock 1 as we redevelop the area and realize the full potential with the demolition of the Central Warehouse,” said Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy.
Alan Goldberg, Chair of the Advance Albany County Alliance, said: “We commend the vision, creativity, and impact demonstrated in your proposal. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of your project on Albany County’s cultural and artistic landscape. Congratulations again on this well-deserved award and thank you for your commitment to enriching our community.”
The Albany Waterway, Inc. is currently conferring with engineering and architectural firms to undertake the study.
Much Thanks!
BJ Costello
Chair
The Albany Waterway, Inc.
Bcostello@hinmanstraub.com
Imagine a “Venice of the Northeastern U.S.”
The Albany Waterway.
The Albany Waterway is a transformative, collaborative canal project that reestablishes and re-envisions Albany’s rich historic, social and economic connections to the Hudson River and the Erie Canal.
Water and commerce flowed into Albany from its ports and canals for over 400 years, in ways that made New York the most prosperous state in the nation. By together imagining the myriad opportunities that emerge from this new and renewed access to the Albany waterfront — recreation, arts and culture, sustainable development and more – Albany will regain the vibrancy, energy and stature that its citizens and businesses deserve.
Check out this PowerPoint to learn more about our vision to re-water Lock One of the Erie Canal!
Albany Waterway Breakfast Presentation Reaction
By Paul Grondahl
A recent Albany Waterway project presentation drew rave reviews from attendees and strong support from elected officials among an audience of 50 engineers, civic leaders, local officials and members of the state Assembly and state Senate representing the Capital Region.
Here is a sampling of their enthusiastic responses following a July 20 breakfast meeting at the Fort Orange Club, sponsored by Albany Waterway Inc. The program featured Powerpoint presentations by Waterway board member and noted artist Len Tantillo and Susannah Drake, a principal of the global design firm Sasaki, renowned for major canal projects in Brooklyn, Chicago and beyond.
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan: “I am excited about the potential for the Albany Waterway project particularly in terms of climate change resiliency and flood mitigation given the trend of unprecedented rain events and rising Hudson River levels. We need to start now to build a resilient future for downtown Albany and other neighborhoods in the city prone to flooding. We need to study this project further with those needs in mind.”
Assemblyman John McDonald, D-Cohoes: “I consider this an exciting project. It is a Capital Region economic development opportunity that is bigger than just Albany. I think it needs to be viewed from a regional perspective. When the capital city wins, everyone in the region wins. It’s interesting that everything old is new again. We used to have a vibrant riverfront in Albany and a bustling Erie Canal and this could help bring that back.”
Senator Neil Breslin, D-Albany: “If we all work together, collaboratively, the Albany Waterway is a distinct possibility. The city of Chicago is a great example. Every time I visit it reminds me of Venice. We can create that atmosphere with a canal in downtown Albany.”
Brian Stratton, Director of the New York State Canal Corporation: “I love the Albany Waterway concept. I’m so proud of the two new major canal projects we helped facilitate, Buffalo’s Canalside and Schenectady’s Mohawk Harbor. Both of those were roughly $500 million projects. I joked with Mayor Sheehan that she could be the queen of New York’s canals with a project that would exceed the cost of those two most recent canal projects. There is very strong interest in this project, which could be phased in. I was very pleased that New York’s Secretary of State Robert Rodriguez attended the presentation, along with representatives from Governor Kathy Hochul’s office.”
Sarah Reginelli, President of Capitalize Albany Corporation: “It’s exciting to see the community talking about bringing the city back to the Hudson River and the river back to the city. I like the discussion about climate change resiliency. I am excited to work with the state Department of Transportation on an in-depth engineering study to see how we can re-imagine the waterfront in Albany.”
Assemblywoman Patricia Fahy, D-Albany: “The Albany Waterway adds to the inspiration of transforming the Albany waterfront. I spent three years to obtain the $5 million grant to study our options. I’m excited about the next steps in assessing the three major plans and going forward with a feasibility study led by the state Department of Transportation.”
Sasaki senior associate landscape architect Josh Price, who grew up in Columbia County: “This is an opportunity to shape a narrative around a waterway that embraces history and the complexities of climate change. This is Albany’s opportunity to make a transformative landscape happen. We believe the Albany Waterway canal project can help propel the city to realize its potential.”
Sasaki principal Susannah Drake: “Our team toured the Albany Waterway project site and this is feasible. This project is aligned with what we do and could be an incredible project for the city. I could see it being done in phases. We fully intend to review the RFP and submit a proposal that will include mobilizing a Sasaki team and bringing in project partners.”
One (potentially wonderful) alternative to replacing I-787
A plan from the 1990s for a canal through downtown Albany is worth another look. - Churchill
Albany’s Waterway’s ‘upstate Venice’ gains momentum
The Albany Skyway now under construction represents a first act of the downtown revitalization effort to reconnect the city to its long-neglected historical spine, the Hudson. -Grondahl