A long-vacant 11-story warehouse in downtown Albany is moving into its final demolition stages, clearing the way for redevelopment of a 1.1-acre site along Interstate 787.
The Central Warehouse demolition is being carried out in phases because of the structure’s location next to active Amtrak rail lines. The project has already completed asbestos abatement, with more than 4,500 tons of asbestos and contaminated material removed from the site.
The first phase involves dismantling the rail bridge that connects the Central Warehouse to an Amtrak rail spur. Crews began the work Sept. 21 and are expected to spend about a week removing materials, cutting steel tracks and taking down the bridge girders.
Work is scheduled between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m. during the bridge removal period. Road closures and detours are expected in the surrounding area as crews complete the work.
Once the rail connection is removed, crews will begin installing scaffolding along the south side of the warehouse. That work is expected to take approximately two months.
The building’s proximity to active rail infrastructure requires demolition crews to remove the structure in controlled sections rather than through a single large-scale demolition operation.
Full removal of the warehouse is expected to begin in December following completion of the scaffolding. Crews are expected to continue demolition through the winter.
The completed demolition will leave approximately 1.1 acres of development-ready land in an area targeted for continued investment in downtown Albany.
The Central Warehouse has remained vacant for years, and previous efforts to rehabilitate the structure did not result in a viable reuse plan. The current demolition effort is intended to remove the deteriorated structure and prepare the property for a future development opportunity.
New York State and Albany County are coordinating the demolition, with state economic development officials describing the cleared site as an opportunity for future growth and investment in the downtown area.
The project demonstrates the logistical challenges involved in removing aging structures located beside active transportation infrastructure. For owners and contractors, the Central Warehouse demolition also highlights the planning required for hazardous-material removal, rail coordination, controlled structural demolition and site preparation.
Once demolition is complete, Albany will have a cleared 1.1-acre site positioned for potential redevelopment near major transportation infrastructure.
Source: ESD.
