What's Next for Cohoes

Cramer's Armory in Cohoes

In thinking about the upcoming vote on the demolition of the Cohoes Theatre on August 24th, it makes me wonder what's next or what could be next for the city of Cohoes. Cohoes has seen a number of highs and lows in the past few years concerning historic buildings. Although recent successes like the Harmony Mills Lofts and the preservation of 103 Remsen Street are positive advancements, demolition has continued with the loss of the original Cohoes Manufacturing Building and Keveney Academy. By all accounts Cohoes seems like it's on an upswing, but with businesses moving out as fast as they move in my question is; what's next for the city of Cohoes?

My opinion is it all hinges on what happens to the beloved Cohoes Theatre. Once a beacon for entertainment and life on Remsen Street it has sat vacant for the better part of thirty years. Now its fate lies in the hands of the Cohoes Common Council. Barring any new developments, the vote on Tuesday night will not go well for its preservation. Our best shot in saving it is an outpouring of community support at the meeting.

If the Common Council does call for the theatres demolition and it's torn down by years-end, Cohoes will have another huge empty lot on the corner of Remsen and White. Not only will Remsen Street have three parking lots in a one-block range but White Street will add it's third as well. Likewise, the building on the south-west corner of White and Remsen is boarded up from a fire not so long ago. The building is in terrible condition and with another parking lot across the street, what's the motivation for fixing up that building too?

That brings us around the corner to the next big fight: Cramer's Armory. Built more than one hundred years ago and abandoned for the last ten years, Cramer's Armory is in bad shape. Like the Cohoes Theatre, Cramer's was a mainstay for local business in Cohoes and the region for decades, and is a beloved icon of our city. It too has parking on three sides of it and is in need of repair and a new owner. I wonder if the Cohoes Theatre goes, what's to save the Armory? The answer is probably not much.

I'm not a glass half-empty kind of person so instead let's imagine how the preservation of the Cohoes Theatre could transform our other treasured buildings. If the Cohoes Theatre is saved and a new theatre is opened, there will be a whole host of new foot traffic in downtown Cohoes. Not only will there be movies but people will want snacks or even a late night slice of pizza. People will be out during the day and at night, which is currently not the case unless the Cohoes Music Hall is in performance.

Maybe I'm too pie-in-the-sky, but all this new foot traffic makes me think Cramer's Armory will then be prime real estate for development. But what does Cohoes or the Albany region need? I'll tell you, Trader Joe's. And from what I know, they're looking. Trader Joe's would be a perfect fit in Cramer's Armory. It's certainly big enough and with a new theatre, Cohoes would be bustling with new activity and more importantly, tax revenue!

So what's next for Cohoes? Right now I'm not sure. I think if we can show the city of Cohoes we care about our heritage and the Cohoes Theatre, better things will come. Please show your support by attending the Cohoes Common Council Meeting on August 24th at 7pm.

For more coverage on Cramer's Armory visit the Cohoes Blog of the Times Union.