Albany County Republican & Conservative Conference Agenda 

In Letter to State and Federal Representatives, Local County Legislators Urge Demolition of “Albany’s Greatest Eyesore” Following Repeated Failures to Rehab the Building

(Central Warehouse covered in black safety netting

Photo: Albany County Republican & Conservative Conference)

ALBANY, NY – Albany County Legislators Frank Mauriello (R-C, Colonie) and Paul Burgdorf (R-C, Latham) today urged state and federal representatives to join them in advocating for demolition of the Central Warehouse in the City of Albany. Following repeated failed attempts to rehabilitate the building, the local lawmakers requested that any public funds spent on “Albany’s greatest eyesore” go towards tearing it down and starting from scratch.

“Though it once served as ‘an impressive illustration of the progress and expansion that is taking place in Albany,’ Central Warehouse has more recently been described as ‘Albany’s greatest eyesore’ and the ‘ugliest building ever built in the state of New York.’ The building earned these distinctions thanks to years of property neglect, mismanagement and government inaction. Leaving Central Warehouse standing is a sign of a failure for New York State, Albany County and the City of Albany,” wrote Legislators Mauriello and Burgdorf.

In a letter to Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Paul Tonko, Governor Kathy Hochul, state Senator Neil Breslin and Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, the Albany County Legislators cited repeated failed attempts by private and public entities to rehabilitate the Central Warehouse. If and when the building is demolished, Legislators Mauriello and Burgdorf advocated for the land to be returned to Albany County for disposition, and not be a financial windfall for failed development efforts.

In 2022, Albany County conveyed the property for $50,000 and forgave $500,000 back taxes to the current developers of the project, which was also awarded a $9.75 million state grant toward rehabilitating Central Warehouse. Over the course of 2023, the developers have asked for more public funding, considered demolition of the building themselves, and been billed nearly $500,000 by the City of Albany for installation of black safety netting.

“In government, we are elected to lead and leave behind a better legacy for future generations. We encourage you and all of our colleagues at the state and federal levels of government to join us in advocating for the best course of action. Any public funds on the project should be used for one purpose – demolishing Central Warehouse,” concluded the County Lawmakers.