Editing Albany, New York (section)

===1942 to present day===
[[File:Albany Institute of History and Art Panorama.jpg|alt=Two classic, buff-colored brick buildings are connected by a modern glass and steel atrium on an urban street.|thumb|[[Albany Institute of History & Art]]]]
[[Erastus Corning 2nd]], arguably Albany's most notable mayor (and great-grandson of the former mayor of the same name), was elected in 1941.<ref name=mceneny157>McEneny (2006), p. 157</ref> Although he was one of the longest-serving mayors of any city in United States history (1942 until his death in 1983), one historian describes Corning's tenure as "long on years, short on accomplishments,"<ref name=grondahl490>Grondahl (2007), p. 490</ref> citing Corning's preference for maintaining the status quo as a factor that held back potential progress during his tenure.<ref name=grondahl500>Grondahl (2007), p. 500</ref> While Corning brought stability to the office of mayor, it is said even those who admire him greatly cannot come up with a sizable list of "major concrete Corning achievements."<ref name=grondahl494>Grondahl (2007), p. 494</ref> Corning is given credit for saving—albeit somewhat unintentionally—much of Albany's historic architecture.{{efn|Grondahl summarizes it as, "This hard-line position of isolationism on the part of the [[political machine|machine]] was a curse economically – but a strange blessing unintentionally in architectural terms. While downtown went to seed and plans for large-scale construction and improvements came to a virtual standstill in Albany without federal money, pockets of the city's historic housing stock escaped the wrecking ball."<ref name=grondahl500/>|group=Note}}

During the 1950s and 1960s, a time when federal aid for urban renewal was plentiful,<ref name=grondahl500/> Albany did not have growth in its economy or infrastructure. It lost more than 20 percent of its population during the Corning years, as people moved to newer housing in the suburbs, followed by most of the downtown businesses [[Urban sprawl|moving there as well]].<ref name=grondahl492>Grondahl (2007), p. 492</ref> While cities across the country grappled with similar issues, the problems were magnified in Albany: interference from the Democratic political machine hindered progress considerably.<ref name=grondahl500/> In 1960, the mayor sold the city's stake in the airport to the county, citing budget issues. It was known from then on as Albany County Airport until a massive upgrade and modernization project between 1996 and 1998, when it was rebranded [[Albany International Airport]].{{efn|Albany International Airport is the public-facing brand of the Albany County Airport,<ref name=Airport>{{cite web|title=Albany Airport History |publisher=Albany International Airport |last=Hakes |first=Chauncey D |url=http://www.albanyairport.com/alb_history.php |access-date=June 2, 2010 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222081857/http://www.albanyairport.com/alb_history.php |archive-date=December 22, 2008 }}</ref> which remains overseen by the Albany County Airport Authority.<ref>{{cite web |title=Airport Authority |publisher=Albany County Airport Authority |accessdate=February 18, 2023 |url=https://www.albanyairport.com/about-alb/airport-authority}}</ref>}}

Governor [[Nelson Rockefeller]] (1959–1973) ([[United States Republican Party|R]]) tried to stimulate the city with new monumental architecture and large, government-sponsored building projects; he drove construction of the [[Empire State Plaza]], [[SUNY Albany]]'s uptown campus, and much of the [[W. Averell Harriman State Office Building Campus]].<ref name=grondahl501>Grondahl (2007), p. 501</ref> Albany County [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] Chairman Joseph C. Frangella once quipped, "Governor Rockefeller was the best mayor Albany ever had."<ref name=grondahl502>Grondahl (2007), p. 502</ref> Corning, although opposed to the project, was responsible for negotiating the payment plan for the [[Empire State Plaza]]. Rockefeller did not want to be limited by the Legislature's [[power of the purse]], so Corning devised a plan to have the county pay for the construction and have the state sign a lease-ownership agreement. The state paid off the bonds until 2004. It was Rockefeller's only viable option, and he agreed. Due to the clout Corning gained from the situation, he gained inclusion of the State Museum, a convention center, and a restaurant, back in the plans—ideas which Rockefeller had originally vetoed. The county gained $35 million in fees and the city received $13 million for lost tax revenue. Having the state offices in the city enabled it to keep good jobs and retain middle-class residents.<ref name=grondahl467469>Grondahl (2007), pp. 467–469</ref>

[[File:Albany Yellow Book cropped.jpeg|thumb|This 1955 map shows the planned expansion of the [[Interstate Highway System]] around Albany.|alt=Black and white map shows the boundaries of Albany and surrounding municipalities, crossed with dark black lines representing planned interstate highways.]]

Another major project of the 1960s and 1970s was the construction of [[Interstate 787]] and the [[South Mall Arterial]].{{efn|The Empire State Plaza was originally known as the South Mall; the [[South Mall Arterial]] is the only remnant of that naming scheme.|group=Note}} Construction began in the early 1960s. A proposed Mid-Crosstown Arterial never came to fruition.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.capitalhighways.8m.com/highways/m-ca/ | title = Mid-Crosstown Arterial | publisher = Capital Highways | year = 2006 | access-date = June 28, 2010 | author = Jordan, Christopher | url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110429085042/http://www.capitalhighways.8m.com/highways/m-ca/ | archive-date = April 29, 2011 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> One of the project's main results was separating the city from the Hudson River. Historian Paul Grondahl has described Corning as shortsighted with respect to use of the waterfront, saying the mayor could have used his influence to change the location of I-787, which now cuts the city off from "its whole ''[[wikt:raison d'être|raison d'être]]''"<ref name=grondahl498>Grondahl (2007), p. 498</ref> In 1967, the hamlet of Karlsfeld was the last annexation by the city, sourced from the Town of Bethlehem.<ref name=annex />

When Corning died in 1983, [[Thomas Michael Whalen III|Thomas Whalen]] assumed the mayorship and was reelected twice. He encouraged redevelopment of historic structures and helped attract federal dollars earmarked for that purpose. What Corning had saved from destruction, Whalen refurbished for continued and new uses.<ref name=mceneny191>McEneny (2006), p. 191</ref> The Mayor's Office of Special Events was created in an effort to increase the number of festivals and artistic events in the city, including a year-long ''Dongan Charter'' tricentennial celebration in 1986.<ref name=mceneny192>McEneny (2006), p. 192</ref> Whalen is credited for an "unparalleled cycle of commercial investment and development" in Albany due to his "aggressive business development programs".<ref>{{cite news |title=Thomas M. Whalen III, 68, Three-Term Mayor of Albany ''(Obituary)'' |author=Pace, Eric |work=The New York Times |date=March 8, 2002 |access-date=July 18, 2010 |page= |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/08/nyregion/thomas-m-whalen-iii-68-three-term-mayor-of-albany.html}}</ref>

Prior to the [[Early 1990s recession|recession of the 1990s]], downtown Albany was home to four [[Fortune 500]] companies.<ref name=mceneny193>McEneny (2006), p. 193</ref> After the death of Corning and the retirement of Congressman [[Sam Stratton]], the political environment changed. Long-term office holders became rare in the 1980s. Local media began following the drama surrounding county politics (specifically that of the newly created county executive position); the loss of Corning (and eventually the machine) led to a lack of interest in city politics.<ref name=mceneny193194>McEneny (2006), pp. 193–194</ref> The election of [[Gerald Jennings]] was a surprise, and he served as mayor from 1994 until his retirement at the end of 2013. His tenure essentially ended the political machine that had been in place since the 1920s.<ref name=mceneny198>McEneny (2006), p. 198</ref>

During the 1990s, the State Legislature approved the $234 million "Albany Plan", "a building and renovation project [that] was the most ambitious building project to affect the area since the Rockefeller era." Under the Albany Plan, renovation and new building projects were initiated around the downtown area. Many state workers were relocated from the Harriman State Office Campus to downtown, helping its retail businesses and vitality.<ref name=mceneny201/> The first decade of the 21st century saw a real possibility for a long-discussed and controversial Albany Convention Center; it opened in 2017 with the goal of making Albany a viable location for large events hosted by statewide organizations.<ref>{{cite news |title=Convention center dream becomes reality |last=Downen |first=Robert |publisher=Hearst Media |work=Times Union (Albany) |date=March 1, 2017 |accessdate=February 18, 2023 |url=https://www.timesunion.com/tuplus-business/article/Convention-center-dream-becomes-reality-10970544.php}}</ref>

Albany remains an important location for business presence, given its role as de facto seat of [[Tech Valley]] and being home to the state capitol. [[Fortune 500]] companies with offices in Albany include [[American Express]], [[JP Morgan Chase|J.P. Morgan and Chase]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. – Albany, 12 Corporate Woods Boulevard, 4th Floor, Albany, 122112344 {{!}} Search Albany Businesses at Albany.com|url = http://www.albany.com/business/jp-morgan-chase-and-co-albany-7767/|website = Albany.com|access-date = November 9, 2015}}</ref> [[Merrill Lynch]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = Albany, NY – Merrill Lynch Branch Office|url = https://www.ml.com/mlwm/system/viewbranchpage.aspx?pageurl=albany_ny|website = www.ml.com|access-date = November 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=CGI offices|url=https://www.cgi.com/en/offices|website=CGI.com|access-date=August 27, 2016}}</ref> [[General Electric]], [[Verizon]], [[Goldman Sachs]],<ref>{{Cite web|title = Ayco|url = http://www.ayco.com/|website = www.ayco.com|access-date = November 9, 2015}}</ref> [[International Paper]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Reynolds |first=Cuyler |title=Albany Chronicles |publisher=J. B. Lyon Company, printers |access-date=January 18, 2009 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XNU0AAAAIAAJ |quote=castle island french fort 1540. |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_XNU0AAAAIAAJ/page/n894 603] |year=1906}}</ref> and [[Key Bank]].<ref>{{cite web |title = A Short History of International Paper |access-date = April 30, 2009 |publisher = Forest History Today |url = http://www.foresthistory.org/Publications/FHT/FHT1998/IP.pdf |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090326112052/http://www.foresthistory.org/Publications/FHT/FHT1998/IP.pdf |archive-date = March 26, 2009 |url-status = dead |df = mdy-all }}</ref>

Albany won the [[All-America City Award]] in both 1991 and 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=All America City Awards: AAC Winners by State and City |publisher=National Civic League |year=2010 |access-date=September 6, 2010 |url=http://ncl.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=130&Itemid=186}}</ref>

{{Clear}}
{{wide image|AlbanyNYPanorama1906.jpg|1200px|Albany, as viewed from the [[New York State Capitol|Capitol]] looking southeast, {{circa|1906}}. [[Albany City Hall|City Hall]] is left of center; the twin spires of the [[Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Albany, New York)|Immaculate Conception church]] can be seen on the far right; the future [[Empire State Plaza]] is located at the extreme right of the image.|alt=A panorama from 1909, in sepia, shows a view of the city perpendicular to the river; there are numerous church steeples and the city hall tower can be seen left of center.|align-cap=center}}