By LOGAN RIPLEY
Sports Editor
ELMA MUJIC
Contributing Writer
The Albany Planning Board reserved decision on a proposal for a 1,700-square-foot Science Center at the Maimonides Hebrew School on Partridge Street.
The proposal to expand the science addition with a lab and lecture classroom for students was presented Thursday evening before seven board members.
The only demolition at the property would involve the elimination of a small shed, according to Rabbi Israel Rubin.
Though the board was enthusiastic about the science addition, they stressed other problems on the property that needed to be looked at first.
The board suggested that one of the vacant parking lots should be paved, but Rubin suggested the space would be turned into a grassy area instead. The board also discussed the maintenance on some fencing on the corner of Partridge Street, which Rubin agreed to fix.
Board member Alison Bates was supportive of the proposed addition but requested that the complete proposal be presented again at the next Planning meeting for a vote.
“We wanted to make sure that they’ve done the work beforehand and that the plan reflects that,” said Bates.
Representatives from the school are expected to return to the May 18 meeting with a revised plan.
Construction is expected to begin as early as May if approval is received and the project would be completed before the start of the school year in September.
The board agenda also included discussion of two vacant city homes that are slated for demolition after a unanimous decision by the planning board.
Both properties experienced extensive damage before the Albany County Land Bank claimed them. In attendance was Amanda Wyckoff, a representative for the Land Bank, who spoke about the two properties on 494 Elk St. and 792 Livingston Ave.
The house on Elk Street has damage to the rear portion of the building, and is partially collapsed, Wyckoff said. Because of that, the building was deemed “unsafe enough,” she added.
The Land Bank also considered missing sections of the room and asbestos throughout the property in its decision to recommend demolition.
“Not every building that we get is in the condition to be saved,” said Wyckoff.
Renovation was considered but not decided upon by the Albany Land Bank because the “investment is too much of a lift,” said Wyckoff. The calculations made for renovations, like the property on Livingston Avenue which suffered a two wall collapse and open roof, ended up “exceeding the demolition cost,” said Wyckoff.
Much of the dialogue between the board and Wyckoff involved a question and answer session, including one from board member Martin Hull who had concerns about the two lots after demolition.
The two demolitions would be the first on both streets, Hull said. He thought fences would be a good boundary for the properties. Wyckoff said that they’ve put fences up on their lots before and would look into doing it again for these properties.
