Hudson Valley Demolition Alert

As the Hudson Valley region undergoes its most massive physical transformation since Urban Renewal, we are losing historic sites at an alarming pace. Call it suburbanization, sprawl, whatever you like. We are losing the places that gave the Hudson Valley its identity in the first place. 

Know of an historic building scheduled for demolition? 
Email yasinsac@hudsonvalleyruins.org, with a name, location, description of building and scheduled date of demolition. Please keep photos relatively small - 400 pixels wide is fine. We will add new sites as notified.

DEMO ALERTS      2013  ·   2012  ·   2011  ·   2010  ·   2009  ·   2008  ·   2007  ·   2006  ·   2005  ·  2004-Part II  ·   2004 Part I   ·   HOME

May 13, 2013

St. Patrick's Church in Watervliet has been largely demolished. As of May 10, only it's bell tower remained as it physically withstood several efforts to be pulled down. 

Photograph courtesy of Fred Rieck.

Source Article: "St. Patrick's Church's bell tower in Watervliet refuses to come down." By Dan Bazile, WNYT.com, May 10, 2013.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2013.html#stpatsdemo

A January 2013 fire believed to be of accidental original seriously damaged the Second Reformed Church in Philmont (Columbia County). The church, built in 1838 and later enlarged, was subsequently demolished.

Photograph courtesy of Fred Rieck, March 3, 2013..

Source Article: "Church fire appears accidental." By Bryan Fitzgerald, the Albany Times-Union, January 16, 2013.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2013.html#philmont

Central Hudson Gas and Electric demolished their iconic Horton Sphere on the Poughkeepsie waterfront. The large globe held gas for home heating. It was located almost beneath the Poughkeepsie Railroad bridge (Walkway Over the Hudson), visible in Tom Rinaldi's photograph shown above.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2013.html#horton

February 26, 2013

The Jackson House at 64 Jackson Street (bing aerial), Fishkill, NY is threatened with demolition for a multiple-unit mixed-use complex. The oldest part of the house, which has been expanded many times, is thought to date to ca. 1741 when the property belonged to Johannes Swart. Judge Joseph Jackson purchased the house in 1808. Jackson, the first lawyer in Fishkill Village, was a Dutchess County legislator 1821-1822, and county judge 1840-1856. Jackson died in 1863, and by 1867 the house was enlarged. Mid-nineteenth century photos show that the house was altered in Picturesque Gothic and Italianate styles with tall dormers and a tower. The building was also the Colonial Inn for a time. It was most recently occupied by offices of the Mid-Hudson Medical Group. The house is a contributing element to the Fishkill Village National Register Historic District. Local preservationists are concerned over recent erosion of the integrity of the Historic District by demolition and commercial development. The developer, Jackson Crossing LLC, is in the process of filing a request with the Village of Fishkill for a demolition permit.
- This entry contributed by Matt Kierstead.

More Jackson House:
Facebook - Friends of Jackson House

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2013.html#jackson

Three historic neon signs were removed from the c. 1954 Bridge Plaza shopping center in Tarrytown during a winter renovation of the storefronts. In late 2012 a CVS opened in the former First National/Stop and Shop store, Subsequently the entire frieze and cornice of the plaza was renovated to be consistent with the design of the CVS store. During this time the signs for the liquor store, Three-hour cleaners, and the Tarrytown Delicatessen were removed. The neon sign for the Tappan Zee Stationery store was reinstalled.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2013.html#bridgeplaza

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, WATERVLIET - UPDATE
Removal of architectural details continues at St. Patrick's Church in advance of demolition. In January statues and artifacts were removed from the building and sold by the church diocese. 

Source article: Historic Church Being Taken Apart, by WNYT staff, February 19, 2013.

February 4, 2013

The Starlite Theater, a theater-in-the-round, was demolished in December 2012. Located outside of Albany, NY, the Starlite operated under various names from 1957 to 1997 and hosted many top musical and entertainment performers. According to the Business Review, the 58-acre site will be redeveloped into residential, commercial and office space by the Galesi Group. 

More Starlite Theater:
Hudson Valley Ruins

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2013.html#starlite

The Catholic Diocese sold this ca. 1891 brick Gothic revival church to a development company that plans to build a Price Chopper on the site. The highly-contested sale was formally approved by a court judge in December 2012. Neighbors who wish that the church be preserved have filed a lawsuit against the Watervliet City Council on the charge that city and state laws were violated during the rezoning process. During this planning period the church building has been stripped of various architectural details and finishes. Also to be demolished are an adjacent rectory, school, and several rowhouses.

Source Article: ""Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY sells off Historic St. Patrick’s Church to Price Chopper for Demolition." By the Citizens for St. Patricks, HistPres.com, January 24, 2013.

Link to this entry: http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/alert/2013.html#stpats