MECHANICVILLE - The controversial Fort Cobblestone House, subject of many moves and counter moves and object of statewide attention, is apparently doomed for destruction today.
In a surprise and unexpected move, Frank Yankowski, director of urban renewal for this city, notified Miss Charlotte Record, chairman of the Mechanicville Historical Society, that he was recommending the stone house be demolished.
Miss Record stated Sunday "The urban renewal people have acted in bad faith." She said that as late as Friday, Nov. 4, the Historical Society had filled out and signed a developer's statement in the office of Yankowski and there were no indications that the agency were contemplating demolition. Miss Record, in a signed statement, said she was handed "an approved recommendation by Yankowski that the house be demolished."
The Mechanicville Historical Society was "shocked" to receive word that the URA would start demolition of the cobblestone house Monday, she said. "All members contacted agreed that urban renewal has acted in bad faith in dealing with the society," she said.
Yankowski on the other hand said that after evaluating all of the evidence and information submitted to him with respect to moving the house to disposal parcel 15, Francis St., and after hours of consultation with city engineer and Donald Larmon, an expert on house moving, that in "good conscience I must recommend to you and the agency that the proposal to move the house is unrealistic and that demolition of this structure will commence Monday Morning Nov. 7."
Yankowski based his recommendations on the original moving cost of $39,850, the top amount authorized by the New York regional office. He said the cost would be substantially above the figure and noted the city's share would be 12 percent.
Secondly, Yankowski pointed out that the government had said that this proposal would not be approved if the operation would cause undue delay in the overall project.
A conservative esteem by the people involved states that it would take at least five to six months to complete the move and possibly more, he said. The director pointed out that although the Historian Society had a membership of 100, only 18 appeared at the meeting, regarding acceptance of the building.
"Of the 18 who attended, 12 voted to accept, while six objected. Of the 12 who did vote in favor, four or five are not residents of the city," Yankowski pointed out.
The director also pointed out that responsible people had informed him there was a risk of the building collapsing or becoming badly dilapidated in the move. Also the redeveloper's statement indicated financial resources of $5,000. "The initial cost of renovating this building will not be covered by tis sum … the resources of the society appear to be insufficient," he said.
"It simply is not feasible or practical to move this building. I have a responsibility to the entire city and to the success of the urban renewal plan. In view of the foregoing, I respectfully recommend to the agency that the building be demolished in order that we might proceed with the progress of the urban renewal plan," Yankowski stated.
Miss Record said Sunday that "The Society had been led to believe that they were complying with every directive of the agency, and that the project would be completed." She stated that as late as Oct. 31, James Duggan, a Schenectady architect, had been informed by letter from a URA official that "It seems to me, however, that it may be possible if all other things had been complied with, there should be no objects to its removal to Francis St.
Whatever the pros and cons, whatever the lengthy arguments, regardless of sentiment, historical value or basic facts, the Old Cobblestone house has a mighty hole in one side of it this morning and it looks like it will be a dusty pile of cobblestone rubble tonight. Richard Palmer blog.