Common Council Approves an Office Complex at 365 Washington Avenue Extension Common Council Approves an Office Complex at 365 Washington Avenue Extension Council Member Carol Wallace Makes Eloquent Plea for the Pine Bush Preservation Albany, NY – The Common Council approved a re-zoning for office buildings at 365 Washington Extension by a vote of 10 to 3 on November 6, 2000. Before the Council voted, Council Member Carol Wallace from the First Ward (Mansion area and South End of Albany)…
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT for Avila House Independent Senior Campus Lead Agency: City of Albany Planning Board 21 Lodge Street, Albany, New York 12207 Contact: Nicholas Dilello (518) 434-2532 ext. 28 Project Sponsor: First Colun1bia, LLC 26 Century Hill Drive Latham, New York 12110-2128, (518) 213-1000 Report Contributors: Hershberg and Hershberg 40 Colvin Avenue Albany, New York 12206 Responsible for "Pine Bush" Contact: Daniel Hershherg (518) 459-3096 Transportation Concepts, LLP 152…
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Exploring Bus Service to the Pine Bush Exploring Bus Service to the Pine Bush by John Wolcott One can reach the Pine Bush from Albany by bus. However, it is, at one point, difficult and unsafe. At another point, it is awkward, and, as yet, uncertain. A couple of weeks ago, I tested part of the bus system in person. I took the Number 12 Crossgates bus to Wall-Mart on the Washington Avenue Extension. This is the nearest stop to…
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We continually remember before Our GOD and Father Your Work produced by Faith Your Labor prompted by Love, and Your Endurance Inspired by Hope in Our LORD JESUS CHRIST. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Our ancestors lived by this scripture and put it to use in daily life. They believed that Hope and ultimately Faith produced Endurance and Perseverance. They left oppression, poverty and racism behind in the South with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. The meager earnings they…
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by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Don Rittner was the guest speaker at the June 20 SPB dinner. Don was introduced by John Wolcott who said Don took Albany by storm in 1973 with his archaeological research of the Isaac Truax Tavern on the King’s Highway that George Washington stopped in six times. He said Don also has the distinction of being fired by Albany Mayors Erastus Corning and Tom Whalen. Don titled his presentation, “The Way We Were.” Using a PowerPoint,…
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Back Below is the proposed site of the Residence Inn proposed to be built on Washington Avenue Ext. Crossgates parking lot and building can be seen at the top of the photo Patch of trees on the left were illegally bulldozed by Crossgates in 1998 and is now flattened land. The Residence Inn is proposed for this area. The Karner Blue Butterfly Hill is the patch of trees on the right. The Niagara-Mohawk Power Right-of-Way is between the Butterfly Hill…
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<< Previous Begin Next>> Note: The "Comment" is the developer’s summary of the public input, the Response is what the developer says in response. Comment 4: Commentor indicated that walking is a dangerous mode of transportation. No sidewalks are proposed. Employees will not be able to walk to work or use mass transit. Customers will not be able to walk or bicycle to the nano-tech facilities. Because customers and employees will need to use vehicles, their risk of being involved…
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written by Lynne Jackson << Previous Begin Next>> Read the Developer’s outrageous response to this issue that says "walking or bicycling . . . should be discouraged." Public Health Issues The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Residence Inn says the following about bicycle and pedestrian access: d. Bicycle Access – Page 19 “There is no convenient bicycle access to the site through the use of dedicated or shared bicycle lands. The Applicant does not anticipate either employees or…
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written by Lynne Jackson << Previous Begin Next>> Creation of a Viable Preserve The Applicant in the DEIS, goes to great lengths to show that a 2,000 acre fire-manageable Preserve has been attained. However, since the court cases listed by the Applicant, scientific research has shown that a viable preserve must be much larger than originally thought. The Albany Pine Bush Commission’s goal for a viable Preserve, based on scientific research, is set at 4,610 acres, much more than the…
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A founding member of Save the Pine Bush in 1978, Wolcott was a month shy of his 91st birthday when he passed away Thursday ALBANY — John Wolcott, a passionate long-time defender of preserving the Pine Bush ecosystem, self-proclaimed Albany historian, and thorn in the side of developers and government officials for decades, died this past week. Wolcott, a founding member of Save the Pine Bush in 1978, was a month shy of his 91st birthday when he passed away…
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ALBANY, NY: Mark Plaat was one of the founders of Save the Pine Bush in February, 1978. He led many hikes, cleanups, and organized a cross-country ski race. Here is his obituary. On May 13th, Mark Plaat, loving husband and father of two boys passed away at the age of 72. Mark was born on May 8, 1950 along with his twin sister Tina, in Bronx NY to Shirley and Julius Plaat. He left home to attend SUNY Albany where…
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2020s 🦋 2010s 🦋 2000s 🦋 1990s Search Newsletter Archives: 2009 🦋 2008 🦋 2007 🦋 2006 🦋 2005 🦋 2004 🦋 2003 🦋 2002 🦋 2001 🦋 2000 2009 October/November 2009 – Download printable PDF version Bringing Back Sustainable Karner Blue Populations, October/November, 2009 September Biogas Talk, October/November, 2009 Buckmoth Monitoring, October/November, 2009 Neither a Borrower or a Lender Be, October/November, 2009 Pesticide Reductions Won at Albany Common Council – We can fight City Hall and Win!, October/November, 2009…
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Albany County Tax records show that 253 acres of Pine Bush were forever lost to development between 2010 and 2020. Acres in Study Area Acres Developed with a Building * % Acres Preserved ** % Acres Undeveloped or Used for Highways / Landfill *** % 13,005 5,723 44.0% 3,317 25.5% 3,965 30.5% * Acres developed does not include highways or other developments that do not contain buildings. ** Albany Pine Bush Commission managed lands *** County tax parcels that do…
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The Village of Colonie is proposing to build a bridge in the Pine Bush over the Rapp Road/Lincoln Avenue railroad tracks. To allow for high-speed rail, all Òat gradeÓ crossings over railroad tracks are to be eliminated. The Village wants to eliminate the Rapp Road/Lincoln Avenue crossing by building a bridge. Save the Pine Bush knows a much better, much less expensive way: dead-end the road on either side of the railroad track. This would save about $3.5 million taxpayer…
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by Tom Ellis ALBANY, NY: Dan Van Riper spoke about the proposed Lincoln Park sewage treatment facility at the May 16 SPB dinner. His wife, Lynne Jackson, introduced him saying Dan has studied the sewage issue for more than ten years and written about it extensively on his blog Dan began saying, “This is a really complex issue and if you don’t understand it, I don’ blame you.” He said the city wants the treatment plant in the ravine along…
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snowpeople Welcome to Snow People! We are citizens of the City of Albany who want the city sidewalks to be usable in all weather. After all, we do live in the northeast of New York! Here are some photos of sidewalks taken by Janet Carr in January, 2003. For more information, contact Janet Carr
PETER HENNER ATTORNEY AND COUNSELOR AT LAW P.O. BOX 326 CLARKSVILLE, NEW YORK 12041-0326 (518) 768-8232 Fax: (518) 768-8235 WEB SITE: peterhenner.com * CERTIFIED MAIL – RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED NOTICE OF INTENT TO SUE October 20, 2003 Mr. Mark Wagner, General Manager Pyramid Crossgates Company 120 Washington Avenue Albany, New York 12203 Dear Mr. Wagner: This letter is a formal Notice of Intent to file a citizen suit against Pyramid Crossgates Company (“Crossgates”) for violations of its State Pollution Discharge…
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Walk, Hike, and Bike the Pine Bush Walk, Hike, and Bike the Pine Bush The Pine Bush is a beautiful place to walk. The soft, rolling sand dunes are a walker’s dream. You can take a bus to the Pine Bush from downtown Albany. The Pine Bush is the perfect spot for outdoor activities. Save the Pine Bush sponsors walks almost every month of the year. Join us! – Ed. Announcing Albany’s Newest Bicycle Path by Jerry Mueller, Mar./Apr. 91…
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The Albany Pine Bush Management Commission The Albany Pine Bush Management Commission The Pine Bush Management Commission was created by the New York State Legislature to study and manage the Pine Bush in response to Save the Pine Bush’s lawsuits with the City of Albany over the landfill. Members of the Commission include the executives of the municipalities which include Pine Bush. The City of Albany, the Town of Colonie, the Town of Guilderland, the County of Albany, New York…
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Waste Reduction and Recycling: Neil Seldman, PhD. Director of Waste to Wealth Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (Washington, DC). Public Presentation and Workshop on Recycling and Waste Management in the Capitol Region Albany Public Library, Washington Avenue Branch: 161 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12210 Presentation: How the Capital District can Transition from Landfills & Incineration to Zero Waste October 14th 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM History of US waste and recycling, restructuring of recycling, localization of solid waste…
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Albany Common Council Votes Against Pine Bush Approves Charlie Touhey’s Office Complex Second Time within 6 Weeks – Albany Common Council Votes Against Pine Bush Approves Charlie Touhey’s Office Complex by Lynne Jackson The Common Council, against the wishes of its constituents, residents, and Save the Pine Bush, approved the re-zoning of 12 acres of Pine Bush from residential to commercial on Monday, May 3. The vote was 3 for the Pine Bush and 12 for asphalt. Charlie Touhey first…
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Save the Pine Bush Sues City – Back in Court with Charlie Touhey Save the Pine Bush Sues City Back in Court with Charlie Touhey by Tim Kostoroski Save the Pine Bush filed suit on September 3rd in New York State Supreme Court over the City of Albany Common Council’s approval of the Pine East Office Complex, located at 300 Washington Avenue Extension in the Albany Pine Bush.. This all too familiar development, (135,000 sq. foot complex with 400 car…
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A snow-covered field near Crossgates Mall may become a battleground over the effect of building in the Pine Bush and on that ecologically fragile area’s bellwether symbol, the Karner blue butterfly. Environmentalists are trying to fend off the nation’s largest independent hotel developer, which wants about four acres west of the mall’s movie theaters for a 124-room project. A fight is brewing because that site along Washington Avenue Extension is next to a protected preserve — surrounded by the mall…
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Washington Protest, January 18, 3003 Washington Protest, January 18, 3003 Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 Marchers carry more signs. Peace puppets. Everyone wants peace. Marchers walk along Independence Avenue. A false security bomb. Bush rides a bomb. This helocopter followed us all day. The police looked down on the marchers. Donald Rumseld, George W. Bush and Dick Cheney joined the marchers. Dancing for the marchers. Note how Mr. Cheney keeps his sneer. The Rocherster, NY Raging Grannies…
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Friday, 17 May 2013 By Melissa Hale-Spencer GUILDERLAND — A mountain of garbage formed the backdrop Tuesday as clusters of eager students learned how to gauge life returning to a once-barren sandy plain. The land is being reclaimed by the Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Farnsworth Middle School students, taught by Alan Fiero, who for 15 years has developed hands-on science projects in the Pine Bush, are in the vanguard “It’s a pilot project. We hope to do it with other…
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Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court Touhey Builds While Save the Pine Bush Goes to Court Albany, NY – After twelve years of stopping Charlie Touhey from building the “Pine East” office complex on Washington Avenue Extension in front of the Dunes housing development, Touhey has won the current round and is rapidly bulldozing the Pine Bush and putting up his buildings. Charlie Touhey sought a zoning change from residential to commercial Pine Bush in order…
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In our August/September newsletter, we detailed the Roman Catholic Diocese proposed senior housing program, which, if built, would seriously impact the ability of the Karner Blue to survive in the Pine Bush. Please write to the Bishop to ask him to re-locate the Avila House Independent Senior Campus outside of the Pine Bush. Below is a sample letter. Please feel free to alter it, but please write! For more information on the proposed senior housing program, complete with maps, please…
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The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is mandated by law to revise its Management Plan every five years. The last revision to the Management Plan were the Implementation Guidelines, adopted by the Commission in 1996. The Commission will hold a public hearing on its Draft Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Albany Pine Bush Preserve on Thursday, October 18 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Town of Colonie Community Center, 1653 Central Avenue, Colonie. Originally, the…
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ALBANY, NY: On March 22, the Supreme Court — Appellate Division, Third Department turned down Save the Pine BushÕs appeal of Supreme Court Judge Joseph TeresiÕs decision against Save the Pine BushÕs lawsuit over 300 Washington Avenue Extension. The land in question is owned by Charles Touhey, and is located on Washington Avenue Extension in front of the Dunes housing project. Touhey originally proposed building a office complex on the site in 1988. The land was zoned residential, and to…
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The 1914 Pine Bush Preserve – What became of it? The 1914 Pine Bush Preserve What became of it? by John Wolcott In 1914, Albany almost benefitted immensely from the City Beautiful movement. This was part of the Progressive movement, then afoot around the country with its strong public spirit, open, honest better government and conservation bent. This, temporarily, influenced even traditionally conservative Albany. Albany in 1912, commissioned an architect, Arnold W. Brunner, and a landscape architect, Charles Downing Lay,…
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16-09 Sept-Oct Newsletter Sept/Oct 16 No. 132 ⢠33 Central Ave., Albany, NY 12210 ⢠email pinebush@mac.com ⢠phone 518-462-0891 ⢠web http://www.savethepinebush.org ⢠Circ. 600 Vegetarian/Vegan Dinner Wednesday, September 21, 2016, 6:00 p.m. Climate Crisis and Practical Solutions Conor Bambrick Air & Energy Director, Environmental Advocates of NY will speak about NY Renews and practical solutions for transition to clean energy Mark Schaeffer who works with 350.org will speak about Overview of climate crisis and need for a political…
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To think that the 6,000-acre Capital Region ecological treasure known as the Pine Bush was once almost 10 times that size, before developers started making their way into what still qualifies as one of the premier examples of an inland pine barrens ecosystem anywhere in the world. Today the Pine Bush and all its wonder are just a bit smaller, at least in the eyes of the builder of a proposed hotel on Washington Avenue Extension. It’s almost as if…
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On Saturday, September 29, I participated in Save the Pine Bush’s first ever bicycle ride to the Pine Bush, led expertly by Steve Redler. The two of us rode on this glorious morning to the Pine Bush. It took us about an hour to leisurely pedal to the Discovery Center on back roads. I was astonished at the Discovery Center. It is absolutely beautiful. It is gorgeous. When you first walk in, you are greeted with beautiful paintings of the…
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ALBANY: On February 21, at the Polish Community Center on Washington Avenue Extension in the Pine Bush, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation held a “scoping” hearing on the proposed landfill expansion in the Pine Bush. Over 250 people attended; there was standing room only. Scoping hearings are held to determine the what topics should be covered in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Usually, these hearings are pro forma, and not many people attend. Perhaps it was because Save the…
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ALBANY: The Planning, Economic Development and Land Use Committee of the Albany Common Council met on October 27 to review the Final Environmental Impact Statement of the proposed Residence Inn hotel in the Pine Bush on Washington Avenue Extension. During the meeting, it became apparent that an essential letter from the US Fish and Wildlife Service was not included, as required, in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Also missing from the record was a letter from Dr. Kurt Johnson,…
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ALBANY: Shawn Morris, candidate for Common Council President spoke at the July Save the Pine Bush dinner at the First Presbyterian Church. Four candidates are running in the Democratic Primary for Common Council President; all were invited to speak, but only Shawn Morris attended the dinner. Shawn began by describing the Common Council President’s roll in city government. The President has three functions: 1) to preside at the Common Council meetings, 2) sit on various City Boards and 3) to…
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by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: On Thursday, August 26, the Zoning Committee of the Albany Common Council held a scoping hearing on the proposed 124-Unit Residence Inn in the Pine Bush. This hotel would be built next to the Karner Blue butterfly hill, which is the only large site of Karner Blues south of the Thruway. Last year, when Pyramid Crossgates first proposed this Residence Inn, Save the Pine Bush asked the Council to require a Scoping Hearing, which is a…
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by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Save the Pine Bush celebrated its 25th birthday at the February vegetarian lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church. The dinner began by members telling stories about the early years. Save the Pine Bush was born in the middle of a snow storm on February 6, 1978. It snowed that day. It snowed so much that the offices of the New York State government closed down and stayed closed the next day. This is the only…
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ALBANY, NY: Eight o’clock AM on a bitter cold December morning saw a dozen Save the Pine Bush volunteers demonstrating over the destruction of the Pine Bush for the building of Avila House. Avila House is proposed to be built in the rare Pine Bush ecosystem. The protesters, with signs and a lot of warm clothes, arrived at the Avila House site to find it completely bulldozed of vegetation. As the protesters stood silently on the edge of the road,…
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ALBANY, NY: The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department decided against the Karner Blue Butterfly and for more construction in the Pine Bush. Save the Pine Bush had brought suit against the City of Albany Planning Board over its approval of an upscale senior housing facility proposed by the Roman Catholic Dioceses behind the Teresian House on Washington Avenue Extension. The proposed 30-acre site is adjacent to the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, contains native Pine Bush species, contains good…
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by Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: The September Save the Pine Bush dinner at the First Presbyterian Church was the setting for a presentation on alien and invasive by Steve Rice, PhD. of Union college. Dr. Rice began by talking about the early efforts to bring fire back into the Pine Bush ecosystem. The thought was that if we could get the Pine Bush to burn, we would eliminate the invasive species. After the massive fire of 1999 (a controlled burn…
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by Lynn Rothenberg GUIDLERLAND: A piece of local African-American history has received state recognition. While residents have long called the neighborhood the Promised Land, the state will now recognize it as the Rapp Road District. The designation by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is due to one woman’s efforts. The district will be on the state register, and may then be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, said Emma Dickson, who spearheaded the effort….
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Download a PDF of this letter Richard Nicholson, Planner City of Albany, Dept. of Economic Development & Neighborhood Planning 21 Lodge Street Albany, NY 12207 Re: Supplemental ~Draft-Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) Tharaidson Development Company Proposed Residence Inn project City of Albany, Albany County Dear Mr. Nicholson: Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) staff reviewed the SDEIS for this project which was accepted by the SEQR Lead Agency on June 16, 2008 and we have the following comments pertaining to that document….
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Save the Pine Bush has a traveling exhibit. We bring it to fairs, schools, and especially every year to the Albany Tulipfest, held on Saturaday and Sunday of Mother’s Day weekend in May. If you don’t have a chance to visit our exhibit in person, we have put the pictures and captions in our exhibit on the web for your enjoyment. The photographs linked to this page are spectacular, and, are quite large (between 60K and 140K). Click on the…
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by Lynne Jackson ALBANY: Save the Pine Bush turned 30 and celebrated with a big party at the First Presbyterian Church. What was served? Lasagna, of course! Over 100 people attended the bash. “Looking Forward, Looking Back 30 Years of Advocacy for the Pine Bush.” The first order of business was the “Looking Forward” part. For that, 10-year old Karine Franke gave an update of her work for the Karner Blue (please see page 3 for details). Everyone decided that…
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Below is a copy of the Final Scoping document for the proposed hotel adjacent to the Karner Blue Butterfly site. For more information about the project, please see the following: Crossgates Wants to Build a Hotel in the Pine Bush, Will they never go away? (Sept/Oct 04) Save the Pine Bush Sues Crossgates Maul and Asks the City to Deny Crossgates Hotel Proposal (Feb/Mar 04) Crossgates Casts a Dark Shadow Over the Pine Bush (Dec 03/Jan 04) CITY OF…
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Roman Catholic Diocese Proposes Senior Housing in the Pine Bush Karner Blue in Serious Trouble It is with great sadness that Save the Pine Bush reports that the Roman Catholic Diocese has proposed Avila House Independent Senior Campus in the Pine Bush. This proposed housing would be located behind the Teresian House on Washington Avenue Extension, on an ideal spot for Karner Blue habitat. It is not too late to oppose the development Ñ no approvals have been given yet….
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The University at Albany (SUNYA) has decided that building sprawl-type dormitories surrounded by asphalt parking lots is more important than Pine Bush preservation. In July, SUNYA began bull-dozing 29 acres of Pine Bush located on the campus to make-way for thoroughly modern sprawl. Save the Pine Bush is horrified that the University would treat the Pine Bush in such an arbitrary manner. The public was not invited to comment on SUNYAÕs plans, and getting copies of the proposed plan took…
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by Lynne Jackson ALBANY, NY: The July SPB veggie lasagna dinner at the First Presbyterian Church was a forum for a bevy of politicians. Everyone came out to support Pine Bush preservation, a welcome change from previous elections. Candidates from Albany, most facing primaries in September attended as well as Ken Runion, candidate for Guilderland Town Supervisor who faces his challengers in the general election. First to speak was Marggie Skinner, Democrat, running for Common Council in the 9th ward…
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They Don’t Ever Quit-But Neither Do We They Don’t Ever Quit But Neither Do We By Daniel Van Riper Not Again, Charlie We’ve been graciously alerted by Alderwoman Carol Wallace that the Albany Common Council Zoning Committee is being treated to a rerun of developer Charlie Touhey’s proposal to build the “Pine East Office Park” at 300 Washington Avenue Extension. While only 13 acres and hardly in the best of shape, it is adjacent to and part of the main…
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