Urban decay

So today after my Ear Training final I planned to drive to Bennington to cash a check from the Symphony. Not because I could only cash it in Vermont, but more because I was bored and wanted to do something. When I left, I noticed how cool everything looked with the ice storm we got last night, so I ran back in to grab my camera and take pictures on the way out. Then I realized how cool everything downtown would look today with the ice so I decided to go there and just walk around taking pictures. Needless to say, Bennington didn't happen and I cashed my check at Price Chopper. But it was totally worth it because I got some really cool pictures. I focused most of them on urban decay, and on Wellington Row in particular.

Wellington Row is made of five buildings on State Street in downtown Albany. They were among the first buildings in the city, and were the place where State Street became commercial instead of residential. In the late 70s (I think) they were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Shortly afterward, the Wellington Hotel closed and the buildings were sold to a corporation that planned to demolish them and build a 14 story office building in their place. A battle with the city of Albany ensued and the buildings were bought very recently by a different company that plans to preserve as much of the buildings as possible, and build the office building on whatever isn't salvageable.  The facades of all the buildings will be kept. However, it doesn't look good. In the twenty years that they have been unoccupied, they have fallen into extreme disrepair. An article was released recently that told the story of an inspector actually falling through the floor while assessing the damage.

I'm hoping to get a really nice camera as a graduation present, because I've always loved photography and it is the only visual art form that I show even the most basic talent in. However, the photos that I took today and plan to take in the near future, especially documenting the transition of Wellington Row, are the only ones that I will get. I won't be able to retake them because the subject won't exist anymore at that point. It will be revitalized, which obviously is a great thing because these pictures are taken in the heart of otherwise nice downtown Albany. 

Expect a link soon where all of the photos I took today can be found.