"There is no deliberate plan to destroy the architectural heritage of Rensselaer County. If such a conspiracy existed, it would probably not be nearly as effective, and an enraged citizenry would have risen to oppose it. Instead, the losses are caused by people who are not aware of the implications of their deeds, and by forces we have not yet learned to control."-
Bernd Foerster, 1965.

Bernd Foerster was a professor of architecture at RPI in the 1960's. The above quoted from his book, "Architecture Worth Saving in Rensselaer County, NY," published in 1965.

Foerster was a visionary. This was the era before large shopping malls, "Big Boxes," and Clifton Park. Some 17,000 more people lived in Troy and it was just the beginning of suburbanization of America.

Foerster wrote to, "encourage the restoration and preservation of buildings and groups of buildings of architectural value..." He went on to say, "To enjoy architecture, it must be experienced, and to be experienced it must exist."

He lists six major reasons for the loss of architecture: fires, decay, economic factors, obsolescence, remodeling, and outdoor advertising. Troy's architectural demise falls into all of these categories, but two stand out.

Economic Factors. Probably the leading factor in determining the fate of many of our prized buildings today is greed. Look at the history of most of our downtown commercial structures. Each have had many owners and businesses occupying their floors over the last 150 years. New businesses moving in remodeled the space to accommodate their needs. They didn't tear the buildings down.

Today, large multinational corporations muscle their way in and wipe out not one but often several buildings. They build their plastic and plywood big boxes, suck as much money from the community as possible, and then abandon them.

Naturally these artifacts from corporate Goliath are near impossible to adaptively reuse and they often sit empty and visible and/or torn down, leaving gaping holes in the historic streetscape, or become parking lots.

He writes further, "It is particularly desirable to scrutinize decisions that have adverse cultural effects to make sure that the advantages are not illusory. Many common assumptions need to be examined." Amen!

CVS recently built a new store opposite the new Rite Aid on Eastern Parkway in Schenectady - both across from Price Chopper with its own pharmacy. CVS closed down two other stores (within five minutes of each other) and shuffled their workers to the new store. Net result? No new jobs. Several historic homes torn down for both drug stores. Two abandoned drug stores with "For Lease" signs on them. This is economic progress? This is corporate roulette. Do you really need 3 drug stores at the same corner? Foerster suggests, "it is also in the interests of the individual enterprise to contribute to the well-being of the community."

Aside from the urban removal blunder of the 70's, downtown Troy has escaped much of this so far. Yet, if Eckards had their way last year, the entrance to Troy from Waterford would look like the entrance to Troy from Watervliet via the Congress Street Bridge.

Obsolescence. Foerster explains that obsolescence is "used far more often than is justified as a reason for destruction. Buildings that have by no means outlived their usefulness are discarded to create an image of progress. Sometimes, changes are made at the loss of prestige that comes with a well kept vintage building. A confusion of newness with quality is devastating to architecture because decisions to obliterate are irrevocable."

Can you imagine what the corner of First and River Street would look like if Eckard's was there instead of a magnificently restored Rice building? Do you think Hollywood would still be shooting pictures here? Of course not.

Few people paid any attention to Foerster's book. Several of the buildings featured in the book are demolished and are now parking lots.

With all this said, I'm still optimistic about the future of Troy's historic resources. Today's City Hall has people occupying it who understand the need to preserve Troy's history. There is a growing activism by the city's populace to preserve the integrity of their neighborhoods which includes historic preservation. And there are plenty of examples of what not to do scattered throughout the city and can point with an "I told you so," attitude.

I don't know if Foerster was present to see the wholesale destruction of Troy during the 70's. Perhaps it's not too late to learn from his writings. "Books and paintings can be rediscovered after centuries but when a building is destroyed the loss is permanent. Architecture cannot be stored." As true today as it was when he wrote it 36 years ago.