Building Where Henry Johnson Mural Once Stood Demolished
A Bittersweet Loss for Albany Neighborhood
On the corner of Henry Johnson and Clinton in Albany was a mural of the boulevard’s namesake Henry Johnson. It’s all gone now, and the city of Albany says it’s because the building had to be condemned.
A War Hero’s Legacy
Sargeant Henry Johnson was part of the famed Harlem Hellfighters who single-handedly held off a German raid and saved a fellow soldier in World War I. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Obama in 2016. This mural was painted about two years later.
Demolition and Redevelopment
337 Clinton Avenue has been reduced to cinder blocks and bricks. It’s like something out of a war zone, ironic in that the building once housed a mural of a war hero. The building was managed by the Albany County Land Bank, and the decision to tear it down was a joint county and city decision.
Sean Maguire, the executive director of Albany County Land Bank, explained, “So we went up with our engineer, took a look inside, and saw the extent of the deterioration on that building.”
A Blighted Neighborhood
337 Clinton was just one of many blighted buildings in Albany. As Maguire noted, “This is a neighborhood where my great-grandfather had a home on Orange Street. So this area is something that I’ve known all of my life, and it’s really unfortunate that folks had labeled this as a place to not invest.”
New Life for the Land
But there will be new life on the land plot again. Maguire revealed, “There’s housing coming in there – about 2500 sq ft of first-floor retail type use across a number of different properties assembled in that area.”
The Fate of the Mural
As for the mural, Maguire reassured, “It had always been our goal and intent to retain that mural at that corner as part of the redevelopment.” Unfortunately, it seems that the mural will not be preserved, but its legacy lives on in the hearts of the people who knew it.
Conclusion
The demolition of the building where the Henry Johnson mural once stood marks the end of an era for the Albany neighborhood. While the decision was made to tear down the building due to its state of disrepair, it’s hard not to feel a sense of loss for the vibrant mural that once adorned its walls.
FAQs
* What was the reason for the demolition of the building?
The building was condemned due to its state of disrepair.
* What will be built on the land plot in the future?
There will be housing and first-floor retail space across multiple properties.
* Will the mural be preserved?
Unfortunately, the mural will not be preserved, but its legacy lives on in the hearts of those who knew it.
