CSA meeting about South Mall
Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Frank of the State
Office of General Services, the agency in charge of
Albany's South Mall project, will speak at Center
Square Association's next general meeting.
lt will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, February 8, in the
second floor Club Boom of Trinity Methodist Church at
Lark and Lancaster Streets. The public is invited.
Mr. Frank will discuss the impact of the South Mall,
largest construction project under way in the nation,
on Albany and especially on the Center Square area.
Major changes are expected in transportation, parking,
business, housing and other aspects, but no broad
study has been made on this impact.
To learn more about Center Square, Mr. Frank plans
a walking tour of the area with Howard Malone on
Monday, February 5. Mr. Frank became deputy commis-
sioner last year, after private law practice in New
York City and Mineola.

Baltimore tries a new method
Baltimore is trying a way to keep its proposed cross-
city highway from making like a tornado or atomic bomb.
With funds from the U.S. Transportation Department,
the city has hired a "design concept team" instead of
leaving the job entirely to highway engineers.
Other cities, including Brooklyn, are following Balti-
more's lead, and it seems a possible approach for Albany.
As summarized in Business Week magazine, "Urban plan-
ning is finally overtaking the highway engineers.
"The result may be city expressways that do not destroy
neighborhgods and property values, defile parks and
monuments, or create new slums."
The aim is to design the whole area around a road —-
to the highwaymen are added experts in architecture,
landscaping, sociology, economics, housing, acoustics,
lighting and even color.

The result is to be more than just moving traffic
fast. The experts are to plan the road's appearance,
its views, its effects on the economy and people of
the city. Devices may include highways through and
under buildings, depressed roadways, and housing and
parks along the right—of—way.

No brickbats for bricking
Center Square residents are pleased with the brick-
in job on the Chestnut Street sidewalk, and have so
told Mayor Corning. The mayor has offered to do the
same for any other Center Square sidewalk when it re-
quires replacing.

Hearing on zoning ordinance
The zoning committee of the Center Square Association
will attend a public hearing to urge passage of a
proposed zoning ordinance for Albany. The hearing is
set for 8 p.m. Monday, February 5, at City Hall.
The ordinance, essentially the same as one presented
last year, was reintroduced at the January l5 meeting
of the city council.
The mayor's zoning committee, however, acted favor-
ably on CSA requests for changes in the zoning map to
prevent inroads of commercial zoning in about one—fifth
of Center Square.
The original proposals included commercial zoning for
25O feet west from Swan Street on State, Chestnut, Lan-
caster and Jay Streets and l35 feet east from Lark on
State and Chestnut Streets.
The complete ordinance has been printed in the City
Record for January 26, available for l5 cents. Or in-
terested persons may read it in the city clerk's office.
On the association's zoning committee are Miss Ruth
Gilbert, chairman, Herbert L. Betham and Paul Steinkamp.
The mayor's zoning committee includes Urban Renewal
Administrator P. Joseph Leone, chairman, Planning Director
Richard J. Patrick, Building Commissioner Philip Gallagher,
Assistant Corporation Counsel Lawrence Kahn, John J.
Matthews and Emil McKay?. -

"Suggest an alternative" -— Senator Speno
"Get thee to a planner," was the gist of State Sena-
tor Edward Speno's advice to persons concerned about a
Lark—Dove? arterial through the center of Albany.

The Mineola legislator described his proposal for
a transportation planning review board at a meeting
of the Washington Park Area Improvement Association
on January 22 in the YMCA.
Senator Speno, in a question period, stressed that
he does not know the rights and wrongs in the Lark-Dove?
controversy but that property owners have a right to
know the proposed route. Getting a positive alterna-
tive plan, professional and documented, would be worth
the cost of hiring planning help, he added.
He had learned about the Albany situation from testi-
mony which Mr. and Mrs. Howard Malone presented for
Center Square Association at a December 16 hearing
chaired by Senator Speno, as chairman of the Joint Leg-
islative Committee on Motor Vehicle, Traffic and Highway
Safety.
The Malones presented arguments against a cross-city
arterial and warned that it would wreck more than its
right-of-way, that it would help turn the entire South
Mall area into parking lots.
ln advocating a review board, the senator said that
"Men who build the roads should not plan them, because
they are then judge and jury. Roadbuilders must answer
questions about natural resources, historical sites,
zoning and future zoning before building the roads."
The Washington Square group plans a March meeting
about the park -— its history, background and cultural
values.

Christmas comes to Center Square
And a goodly crowd was there, for what has become the
traditional tree-trimming and carol-sing sponsored by
the Center Square Association.
The tree, in front of the Walter Langley home at 225
Jay Street, was felled by a hit-and-run vehicle the
night before trimming. But after that initiation, it
withstood the entire season complete with a large gold
star, lights and homemade decorations.
After the outdoor program, eggnog was served at the
home of Miss Ruth Gilbert, l62 Chestnut Street.
The CSA board has sent formal thanks to all contribu-
tors: the Langleys for location and electricity, the
Malones for candy canes for kiddies, Miss Gilbert for
the party and the William Dumbletons for co—hosting it.

Discussions on parking and traffic
Larry Kahn, Albany's assistant corporation counsel,
met with the CSA board on January 15 to talk over the
association's proposals for improving parking and
traffic conditions in Center Square.
Board members feel that the city stresses only one
of the proposals -— permit sticker parking for residents --
and that CSA should renew efforts to meet with city of-
ficials on the whole proposal.
Mr. Kahn explained his opinion that permit parking
may be unconstitutional because it would restrict pub—
lic streets, which all city taxpayers maintain, to the
use of a special category of citizens, whose who buy
permit stickers.
Mr. Kahn said the city might oppose the idea anyway,
fearing pressure from other residentia1—commercial
areas like New Scotland Avenue and neighborhoods near
bank branches.
The board plans to get other opinions on constitu-
tionality of permit parking but to make this only one
item in hoped—for discussions on the traffic proposal.
The proposal is for permit parking on both sides of
Chestnut, Lancaster, Jay and Dove streets and on one
side of State. lt suggests State, Chestnut and Jay
as one—way streets east, Lancaster as one—way west and
Dove one—way south.
Proposed innovations are for traffic slowing devices ——
bollards, planters, etc. -—— on Chestnut at Lark and
Swan and on Lancaster at the west side of Lark; and
for closing completely the Lancaster Street entrance
to Washington Park.

Historical survey report
The CSA committee which is collecting information
about every structure in Center Square reports that
it has yet to receive a number of questionnaires.
These should be filled out and returned to Miss Cather-
ine Bacon, 183 Lancaster Street.
Miss Bacon will supply blanks for those who have not
received them. The questionnaire covers age of the
house, material, major structural changes, architectural
features and other building data. lt is part of a
program to document the area's history.



What Center Square is
The Center Square Association was formed a decade
ago to preserve and improve an enclave of old residences,
mostly Victorian, in downtown Albany. Its boundaries
are State and Jay, Swan and Lark Streets, plus the
block of Lancaster between Lark and Willett.
Major support for the association's aims came in
1966, when the Albany Common Council created an His-
toric Sites Commission and included Center Square in
its list of protected areas. The action means that
any exterior change in a Center Square structure must
be approved first by the commission.
The Center Square historical site recommended by
the commission follows the boundaries of the associa-
tion, except that it does not include the south side
of Jay Street as the association does.
The association has been active in beautification ~—
trees, brick sidewalks and flower boxes, in preserva-
tion -— helping owners to preserve the qualities of
their houses; and in protection —— voicing members'
feelings on zoning, parking, highway construction and
other issues.

Calling new members
Membership in the Center Square Association is open
to anyone who lives in the area, whether they own
or rent their homes, and to persons who own businesses
or other property in the Center Square area, even if
they live elsewhere. ’
Anyone who would like to join the association should
speak to any CSA officer or committee chairman (listed
at the end of this Newsletter).
The association is asking members to serve as block
chairmen, to invite their neighbors to join. Also
planned is a telephone campaign among former members
who have not paid the $2 dues for the current year and
may not realize their lapse.

CENTER SQUARE DIRECTORY
Officers
President: William A. Dumbleton, l65 Chestnut St., A3A—A763·?
Vice—president: Howard L. Malone, 205 Lancaster St., A36—82l9
Corresponding secretary: Mrs. Warder Cadbury, l35 Jay St.,
A62—3l39
L Recording secretary: Alfred F. Dascher Jr., QA Chestnut St.,
il3A—67iMl
Treasurer: Harold Rubin, l56 Chestnut St., u3M-0855

Committee chairmen
Historic Survey: Miss Catherine Bacon, l83 Lancaster St.,
u3M-0506
Historic Sites Commission: Mrs. George Hemstead, 209 Lan-
caster St., A3A—2060?
Membership: Harold W. Juhre Jr., 2lB Lancaster St., A62—l77l
Newsletter: Mrs. David Billmyer, l99 Lancaster St., A65—O737?
Planning: Paul R. Steinkamp, l58 Chestnut St., M62—2909
Real Estate: Mrs. Howard L. Malone, 205 Chestnut St.,
A36-82l9
Trees: E. D. Blanner, lU8 Chestnut St., M3U-3052?
Zoning: Miss Ruth Gilbert, l62 Chestnut St., U63—23A3?