CURRENT AND FUTURE NEWS
5/13/2026 - PHNA on positive steps for the Saint Rose Campus and on the Future of the Saint Rose Houses
PRESS RELEASE: May 14, 2026
Pine Hills Neighborhood Association sees positive steps for the Saint Rose Campus, and urges action on the nearly 50 houses on campus
Albany. NY– Today, the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association (PHNA) shared that it is pleased with many of the recent announcements and the activity on the former Saint Rose Campus. PHNA Vice President and Chair of PHNA’s Saint Rose Committee, Leah Golby said, “PHNA is thrilled to see the plan for Hudson Valley Community College to acquire the Massry Center for Arts. The proposed uses of the facility will keep an important arts venue open to the public. We appreciate the Massry family’s continued investment in this community.”
Golby continued, “Neighbors support much that is happening as the campus transforms and more buildings are returned to productive use. These developments are critically important to keeping our neighborhood strong. We look forward to students once again living in the former Centennial Hall. The news that the Lally School of Education will be purchased by First Columbia and will contribute to our tax base is a positive step forward. Meanwhile, many neighbors are enjoying the offerings by the Albany County Parks and Recreation Department at the Events and Athletics Center, and we are happy to see new life at the Interfaith Sanctuary. These are all examples of wins for our neighborhood on the campus. We thank the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority (ACPHLA or Authority) for their diligent work, and we thank County Executive Daniel McCoy for stepping up to the plate to ensure that the former campus didn’t fall into neglect and disrepair.”
With all of the activity related to mostly larger institutional buildings, PHNA wants to turn attention to the nearly 50 houses that are part of the campus footprint because they cannot be forgotten. Today, PHNA issued the attached statement calling on ACPHLA to develop a policy and plan for the houses. PHNA Board Member and Membership Chair, Carolyn Keefe stated, “The question that members and neighbors near and far ask me more than anything else is, ‘What is happening with the houses on the former Saint Rose campus?’ PHNA has created this statement as an overview of some of our visions, values, and hopes and as a way to start a conversation with a focus on community revitalization. PHNA is building on our long history of involvement with the campus and the neighborhood.”
PHNA’s statement includes the following, “We encourage the Authority to prioritize buyers who will responsibly maintain and manage properties as owner-occupants or landlords. Furthermore, the Saint Rose houses provide an opportunity to improve access to stable housing in Albany. The Authority should seek active involvement with the many programs that help reduce purchase, rehabilitation, and rental costs for homeowners and renters.”
The statement goes on to say, “PHNA would like to see the architectural features of all buildings maintained to the greatest extent possible as they are adapted to new uses. PHNA has a longstanding position against demolishing buildings for parking. If selective demolition is sought by purchasers, the community should have the opportunity to review and weigh in as they would with a property before the city Planning Board. The benefits of such a disposition policy and plan would include returning properties to the tax rolls, building a community of new neighbors, and creating a healthy mix of uses as recommended below.”
The statement outlines many of PHNA’s preferences including owner-occupied single and multifamily housing, a homeowner assistance program for low and moderate-income purchasers, offices, restaurants, and retail including mixed use with apartments upstairs.
PHNA’s statement also makes clear that the neighborhood association opposes purchasers with documented histories of vacant properties, repeated code violations, or nuisance abatement cases, does not want a proliferation of short-term rentals, and opposes demolition of buildings for parking. The full statement is posted here.
Quotes from Community Partners
Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church is a Pine Hills neighbor and member of PHNA. The Reverend Martha Hubbard, Rectorof St. Andrews Episcopal Church said, “We at St. Andrew's have hoped and prayed for affordable housing as part of the Saint Rose redevelopment. It's great to see the PHNA statement pointing to a very similar conclusion as ours - this is a once in a generation opportunity to help address the housing crisis many in our city face.”
Executive Director of Historic Albany Foundation (HAF), Pam Howard said, "Historic Albany Foundation supports the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association’s stance on the reuse for the nearly 50 houses that are part of the closed college campus. HAF has been pleased with the treatment of the campus by Albany County in keeping the nearly 100 vacant buildings maintained and secured, as well as thoughtfully finding buyers. As the process of selling the homes draws closer, these properties can and should play an integral part in assisting with Albany’s current housing crisis in putting the homes back to productive uses as single and multi-family residences, student housing, and small businesses, in addition to putting them back onto the tax rolls. HAF also recommends a thorough vetting process for any potential buyer(s) to ensure acceptable uses and long-term sustainability of the former campus and the Pine Hills neighborhood."
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About the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association: Established over 50 years ago, the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to preserve and improve conditions that make the Pine Hills neighborhood a viable and pleasant place to reside, work and enjoy life.
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MEET AND GREETS
MAYOR DR. DORCEY APPLLYRS & ALBANY POLICE CHIEF BRENDAN COX
JAN 21 — 1:30 PM TO 3:00 PM @ STEWARTS
875 NEW SCOTLAND AVE, ALBANY, NY 12208
FEB 6 — 11:30 AM TO 1:00 PM @ MADISON THEATER
1036 MADISON AVE, ALBANY, NY 12208
FEB 23 — 5:00 PM TO 6:30 PM @ HOWE LIBRARY
105 SCHUYLER ST, ALBANY, NY 12202
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CG1aUyNwi/
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10/14/2025 - PHNA sends a letter to Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy asking “Why these buildings, why now?” and shares the support for the Our Community Re-Imagines Saint Rose statement. See our press release below:
PRESS RELEASE October 14, 2025
On the future of the Saint Rose campus:
Pine Hills NA gains support - asks County Executive “Why these buildings and why now?”
Albany. NY– Established over 50 years ago, the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association’s mission is to preserve and improve conditions that make the Pine Hills neighborhood a viable and pleasant place to reside, work and enjoy life.
The former College of Saint Rose campus has the potential to be a vibrant, safe, multigenerational space that welcomes visitors and residents of Albany County and throughout the greater Capital Region. The Pine Hills Neighborhood Association (PHNA) fully supports the Reimagine Saint Rose process currently underway.
Today, PHNA announced that 10 organizations and 375 individuals have signed onto their statement urging the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority to complete their redevelopment plan before selling any properties. The following organizations have signed the PHNA statement: League of Women Voters of Albany County, the Council of Albany Neighborhood Associations (CANA), Beverwyck NA, Center Square NA, West Hill NA, Helderberg NA, Mansion NA, Delaware Area NA, Park South NA and Washington Park NA.
In a September 10th letter to the members of the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority Board (the current owners of the Saint Rose campus), PHNA Vice President Leah Golby reminded the Land Authority, “In the nearly two years since the College announced it would be closing, we have heard over and over again that there is a strong desire among community members to put Saint Rose properties on the tax rolls and contribute to our tax base, easing tax burdens of Albany residents.” Meanwhile, the offer the Land Authority received from the County Executive seeking to purchase five properties was for only 64% of the recently appraised value of those properties, and would not put any property back on the tax rolls.
Today Roslyn Jefferson, Chair of the PHNA Committee on the Future Reuse of the Campus at the College of Saint Rose sent a letter to the County Executive with questions about the vision for the use of the buildings while reiterating concerns about the campus turning into an office park. This letter reminded the County Executive of the desire to put properties back on the tax rolls. She wrote, “PHNA vigorously supports a moratorium on the sale of any buildings by the Authority until after the Reimagine Saint Rose process is complete and a final report is issued. The full potential of the campus cannot be determined before then, and the public must first have the opportunity to be heard and learn of the vision for the campus and prospective uses for all buildings. We expect—and the community deserves—a transparent process with meaningful input before any purchases proceed.”
The letter continued, “Why these buildings and why now? It is not clear why a purchase offer is urgent right now, nor whether the County has specific, well-conceived plans for these five buildings.” The letter goes on to ask several questions about the plans for each of the buildings.
Ms. Jefferson closed the letter stating, “PHNA is committed to being a collaborative partner to the County and the Authority in shaping the future of the Saint Rose campus. We encourage you to draw upon our knowledge and lived experience of our neighborhood and of the Saint Rose campus. Pine Hills Neighborhood Association asks that you and your team further consider the stakes for those of us who have chosen to live and invest in Pine Hills. Long after plans are developed and decisions are made and implemented, neighbors in Pine Hills will live with the results.”
See the attached full letter to the County Executive from the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association. The letter will be linked to this page later today.
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9/10/2025 - PHNA sends a letter to the Albany County Pine Hills Land Authority asking that they pause all sales until after the Reimagine Saint Rose process is completed and the report is submitted
7/10/2025 - Our Community Re-imagines Saint Rose
7/10/2025 - [PDF] Our Community Re-imagines Saint Rose
Find the latest info. on St Rose Campus
IN THE PAST
July-August 2025 Free Monday Concerts at The Elks Club
June 20 2025 Movies Under The Stars
