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Albany train station loses tenant

Category: Ride Trains

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Written by Randy Garbin

The Albany Times-Union reports that the gloriously restored New York Central train station in downtown Albany will soon lose its major tenant casting doubt on its future. No, the tenant was not Amtrak, but a bank, and the tracks that once coursed beside it have been long-since lifted. We predict (with tongue firmly in cheek) that a high end steak house might takes its place.

Union Station, Albany. Photo courtesy of the Times-Union.

ALBANY -- The only occupant of Albany's landmark former train station will move its employees elsewhere, leaving the building vacant for the first time since its celebrated restoration 23 years ago.

Kiernan Plaza was once Union Station, a grand and impressive gateway to the city. The train station closed in 1968 and sat empty and decaying until it was reopened as a bank headquarters and office building.

Bank of America now occupies the building. But a company spokesperson on Tuesday said the bank is consolidating its Albany operations to cut costs and will move all its Kiernan Plaza workers to a State Street building.

The consolidation, expected to occur early next year, will not involve job losses, the bank said.

Mayor Jerry Jennings said he recently was notified by Bank of America of the impending move. He said he has since toured the building to assess its condition and has asked his economic development department to aggressively market and promote the soon-to-be-vacant property.