Mansion Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mansion Historic District
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Rowhouses on Grand north of Madison, 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Albany, NY |
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| Area | 45 acres (18 ha) |
| Built | 1820-1925 |
| Architectural style | Federal, Italianate, Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003343 |
| Added to NRHP | 1982 |
The Mansion Historic District, also known as Mansion Hill, is a special neighborhood in Albany, New York. It's located just south of the large Empire State Plaza. The district gets its name from the nearby New York State Executive Mansion, which is where the governor lives.
This historic area covers about 45 acres and includes 16 city blocks. It has nearly 500 buildings. Many of these are rowhouses and townhouses built in the mid-to-late 1800s. Most of these old buildings are still in great shape today.
The area first started in the early 1800s with large homes for rich people. Later, the land was divided into smaller lots. It became a first home for many different groups of immigrants, especially Italian Americans. In the mid-1900s, the neighborhood faced some tough times. This was partly because building the Empire State Plaza cut it off from downtown Albany.
During this period, local people formed a neighborhood association. This group helped the Mansion neighborhood recover. Today, it's a popular place to live. In 1982, the city officially named it a historic district. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites across the country.
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Exploring the Mansion District
The Mansion district is built on land that rises about 100 feet from the flat areas near the Hudson River. To the east, you'll find the Pastures Historic District. The South Mall Expressway, a busy road, separates the district from the Times Union Center and downtown Albany to the north.
The tall, modern buildings of Empire State Plaza, like the Erastus Corning Tower, stand over the district from the northwest. To the west, there's a strip of land with the governor's mansion. You can also see the beautiful Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the New York State Library.
Lincoln Park is to the southwest. To the south, the city's South End begins, which has more businesses and factories. The district has 475 buildings. Most are two or three-story rowhouses. There are also a few larger commercial buildings and two churches. The area is very urban, with buildings close together.
You can find open spaces in three parks along Philip Street. Two large parks are across from each other between Elm and Myrtle streets. One of them even has a basketball court.
A Look Back: History of Mansion Hill
The Mansion District had large homes even before the governor's mansion was built. Long ago, it was known as Albany's first suburban area. Rich people built big houses here with beautiful gardens. Large-scale building didn't really start until the mid-1800s. This was after other parts of the city were already full.
Many different immigrant groups have called Mansion Hill home. Italian Americans were the last major group to settle here. They arrived in large numbers in the late 1800s. The 1900s saw the neighborhood face challenges like decline and urban renewal. But it began to get better in later years.
Early Days: 1700s
When Albany was first settled in the 1600s, the city was mostly in a stockaded area, like its downtown today. The future Mansion neighborhood was separated by a deep valley. So, not many people settled there at first.
The first recorded settler was a farmer named Hendri Hallenbake. When he died in 1766, his family divided the land. They sold the lots to wealthy Albany residents. These new owners built large houses for themselves.
After the American Revolution, Peter W. Yates, a successful lawyer and militia colonel, lived here. He owned a house at what is now Ashgrove and Trinity places. In 1807, he sold his house to James Kane.
Growth in the 1800s
James Kane was a successful merchant. He bought much of the land that makes up the district today. He was known for being very welcoming to guests. After he lost his money in the Panic of 1819, his land was taken by those he owed money to.
The first new buildings outside Kane's land appeared. A Federal style house was built at 146 Madison Avenue in 1828. It's the oldest house still standing in the district. Another Federal-style house went up nearby in 1833.
After the Erie Canal opened in 1825, Albany's economy grew. People needed more places to live. Trinity Place was opened in 1836. The first rowhouses in the Mansion Historic District were built there in 1839–40. This marked the start of the Mansion neighborhood as we know it today.
Archibald McIntyre and Henry Yates bought the Kane estate in 1834. It was even used as a temporary governor's mansion by William H. Seward. When Yates died in 1854, the house became the Albany Academy for Girls. Later, the academy moved, and Kane's estate was torn down for a church.
Not much building happened in the early 1840s due to an economic slowdown. But construction picked up again in the late 1840s. David Orr built some of the most unique rowhouses at 6-10 Madison. Their pointed-arch windows show the influence of architect Andrew Jackson Downing.
The Mansion District really took off in the 1850s. Albany's economy was booming thanks to the canal, railroads, and new factories. Many new workers, including Irish immigrants, needed homes. Developers built houses on Madison, Myrtle, Park, and Grand streets.
Builders like James Eaton brought new styles to the district. He built the Italianate rowhouses at 46–68 Elm Street. These homes had unique projecting sections that looked like separate towers. He also built the Gothic Revival homes at 78–92 Grand Street.
During this time, many German immigrants moved into the district. Many of them were Jewish people escaping problems in Europe. They helped make South Pearl Street a busy shopping area.
Modern Times: 1900s and 2000s
By 1876, most of the district was built. The neighborhood continued to do well in the late 1800s. Another immigrant group, Italians, began to move in. They built the beautiful St. Anthony's Church at Grand and Madison in 1908. By 1910, Italians were the fourth largest ethnic group in Albany. Ten years later, they were the largest. The Mansion became known as the city's "Garlic Core" because so many Italians lived there.
This Italian character lasted for many years. The writer William Kennedy wrote that Madison Street in 1941 "could be taken for a street in Italy." This was because of all the Italian names on businesses. One of these, Lombardo's, has been on Madison since 1933. It's now a very famous Italian restaurant.
The building of Empire State Plaza had a big negative effect on the Mansion District. Nearby neighborhoods were torn down. The Plaza and a new road cut the district off from downtown. Many residents moved to the suburbs. The local church, St. Anthony's, closed in 1973 because not enough people were attending. The neighborhood started to look run down, and house prices dropped very low.
Some new residents decided to buy homes at these low prices. In 1975, two of them started the Mansion Neighborhood Association (MNA). This group worked to help the community and stop buildings from being torn down. The MNA is credited with helping the neighborhood become popular again in the early 2000s. The Albany Free School, a special kind of school founded in 1969, also became an important part of the community.
Today, houses in the area sell well. People like that they can easily walk to the Plaza and downtown. New residents often praise the neighborhood's strong sense of community. In the late 2000s, another community group bought St. Anthony's Church. They restored it and turned it into a cultural center. It's now called Grand Street Community Arts.
Like other historic districts in Albany, any new building or changes in the Mansion district are reviewed. This is done by the city's Historic Resources Commission (HRC). This group of nine citizens cares about architecture, history, and historic preservation. They are appointed by the mayor.
