FORUM 7/15 -- Help Wanted!

Hi Friends and Neighbors --

On June 25, dozens of us turned out at City Hall to voice our strong opposition to the Fort Orange Club's plans to tear down two historic buildings at 118-120 Washington Avenue to provide additional private parking for Club members.

Since that time, a number of us have been working to refute statements made by the Fort Orange Club in their applications and in testimony before Albany's Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA), namely that the buildings were "not historic," "not as significant as the Fort Orange Club," or needed to be torn down in the name of "preservation," so the Club could increase its membership!

On July 9, the BZA agreed to defer its decision on the Fort Orange Club's requests that threaten historic buildings at 118-120 Washington Avenue, possibly due in part to our upcoming COMMUNITY FORUM.

We've lined up the panelists, we've secured the location, now we need your help!

Please join us on Tuesday, July 15, at 6 p.m., at the Westminster Presbyterian Church Auditorium (enter at 85 Chestnut Street.)

Your presence in, and participation in, this discussion will let the Fort Orange Club, the BZA, and other decision-makers know that residents of Albany don't think it's EVER a good idea to tear down viable buildings to create surface parking lots!

We hope to see you on Tuesday at the COMMUNITY FORUM!

Cheers,
Colleen

PS: Please visit http://neoalbany.blogspot.com/ to review photos of the endangered buildings, the Fort Orange Club's plan, a proposed alternative site plan, recent letters to the editor of the Times Union, and many documents providing background on the issues. You can also print out a flyer with details of the event.

PPS: Please help us get the word out about the COMMUNITY FORUM! Send an email to neoalbany@gmail.com or leave voice mail at 518-462-1900 if you can take just one hour this weekend to pick a block and pass out flyers! I need to know how many copies to order!

PPPS: PASS IT ON!