Quarterly Report: May 2024
Dear Friends!
The picture below reflects what is possible here in Albany! It is consistent with our purpose to create and implement a vision of a Waterway, taking advantage of public-private partnerships, in order to revitalize the City of Albany by providing the source for new internal and external significant investments, opportunities for increased workforce, tourism and connections, with an element of affordable housing, benefitting neighborhoods and families.
This picture makes real Bobby Kennedy’s maxim: “Some see things as they are and ask, ‘Why.’ I dream of things that never were and ask, ‘Why Not?’”
Introduction
This is our quarterly update – and what a quarter we have experienced!
You are the more than 700 members of the Army of the Engaged! Thank you for your support!
I am inspired today recalling Victor Hugo’s quote, “There is nothing stronger than an idea whose time has come”; by Martin Luther King who did not say I have a plan but instead challenged us by passionately stating “I have a Dream”; by President Kennedy who stated in 1963 that we were going to the moon “not because it is easy but because it is hard, and we will succeed because we will put our best efforts to the task”; by President John Adams who, along with many others, had derided the efforts of Governor Clinton in conceiving and driving the implementation of the Erie Canal, transforming New York into the Empire State when he stated on July 24, 1826: “ the great canal in New York is the wonder and pride of the ages and deserves to be commemorated by every means.”
We are seeking to build on this result by effecting significant positive economic, social, environmental, and community transformation of the capital city of the Empire State!
Public Officials have been most supportive!
Members of the Assembly Pat Fahy and John McDonald have been most encouraging of our efforts to highlight our vision. This is the period while we await the draft report from The NYSDOT on reconnecting the Hudson River to Albany, a potential boon not only to Albany but to the entire Capital Region. Pat Fahy is leading the Assembly Higher Education Committee during intense budget negotiations and pushing for other budget issues to have significant positive impacts on our city. Yet she has continued to lead the effort to daylight and recover Lock One, buried below a roadway and a building, critical to access back to the Hudson River from north end of our Waterway. Member McDonald and Mayor Sheehan have also encouraged us to continue to build momentum so that on October 26, 2025, on the 200th anniversary of the completion of the Erie Canal, we can witness our officials cutting a ribbon to mark the occasion and begin the hard work to realize our vision! County Executive MaCoy has continued to provide advice and actions supporting our economic development and land acquisition plans.
The state Canal Corporation is led by Brian Stratton who, along with his team has continued to assist us moving forward. That corporation is overseen by the New York Power Authority whose leader, Justin Driscoll, has met with and encouraged our efforts. We have educated the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and met with the New York State Office of Historic Preservation, working with them to develop Lock One as a state and national historic site, opening up the ability to achieve grants and public financing. Finally, we continue to work closely with the NYSDOT who will be issuing a draft report. We refer to this as the Fahy Report, which will consider many possibilities to achieve the connection of the river to the city, expected to include an analysis of our dream.
Community Outreach Continues!
Len Tantillo and I attended the South End Neighborhood Association and South End Community Collaborative meetings to listen to concerns, to educate about our vision and to seek support from community members.
Later we met with members of the Fort Orange Garden Club whose members expressed great interest and support. We have received interest from Cornell and we continue to meet with and educate other groups of concerned citizens, building our base of support for the campaign to fund and begin construction of our vision. We continue to receive much encouragement as people realize that we are persistent in our efforts and will succeed ultimately.
Research and Social Media continue to evolve!
In February our team of Andy Wolfe and Denis Foley commissioned a ground penetrating radar study around Lock One. This revealed that much of the outline of the lock, the basin through which canal boats loaded and moored and the weigh lock through which these boats passed and were assessed tolls to begin their journeys west remains! This is all important as we pursue historic site status for this area.
Albany Law School has researched key policy issues that further our mission. They have identified the tremendous cost benefit and return on public investment experienced in other cities transformed by blue spaces as well as the details of acquiring property necessary to affect our ideas.
We now have an Instagram account and our website remains popular and a place to direct interested parties. We expect to focus on our marketing efforts in the near term as activity will ramp up in the Spring.
Tax Exempt status.
Recently the IRS informed us that The Albany Waterway, Inc. has been granted IRS tax exempt status retroactive to April 6, 2022! This is great news and important to you for the purpose of making your donations to our cause.
Next Steps.
Soon we expect the NYSDOT will unveil their diligent review of reconnecting the river to the city and this will yield further review and advocacy to include our vision in the final report, scheduled for release at year's end. This could be a roadmap to our next steps and we will keep you appraised of the need to engage your involvement.
Our work going forward will cost money so we continue to seek your donations to support our efforts and know that each dollar counts! Donations may be sent to our Treasurer, Eric Simonds at CBRE, Upstate New York, 210 Washington Avenue Extension, Suite 201, Albany, NY 12203.
Close.
It is with gratitude that our team moves forward, encouraged by so many of you to continue one step at a time with a belief that these will yield great achievements, so necessary for our region.
Please do not hesitate to stay in touch, to assist with your donations and with your encouragement we will succeed!