When Will Albany’s Giant Eyesore Be Torn Down?

Tearing down the Central Warehouse in Albany has been a hot topic in the Capital Region for years. We may have a better idea of when this gigantic eyesore will finally be demolished.

Albany County’s economic development group, the Advance Albany County Alliance, is leading in demolishing the deteriorating Central Warehouse near the Clinton Avenue exit on Interstate 787. This long-standing eyesore has been looming over the city’s skyline for decades, but things are finally moving forward for its removal and redevelopment.

The Alliance plans to seek proposals soon for managing the demolition of the eleven-story building. Kevin O’Connor, CEO of the Alliance, told the Albany Business Review that once contracts are awarded, it’s expected to take four to five months to remove the asbestos and another two months to tear down the structure fully.

While the process is complex, the hope is that the building will be gone by 2025. Once it’s demolished, the county will take ownership of the property and pass it to the Alliance to plan future developments.

There are thirteen million dollars available for the demolition, thanks to a ten million dollar state grant and three million dollars in county funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. The Alliance is confident the demolition can be done within this budget, but the final costs won’t be clear until the proposals are received.

One challenge is the nearby Amtrak tracks, which could complicate the demolition. However, if costs exceed the budget, O’Connor said they’ll reassess the situation and figure out how to move forward.