Vanguard-Albany Symphony Designer Showhouse Returns to Roots

Downtown Albany 17 Chapel Condos Selected to Host 32nd Annual Event

ALBANY, NY (02/23/2012)(readMedia)-- Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings and the Vanguard-Albany Symphony, Inc. announced that the new condominiums at 17 Chapel Street, Albany, NY will serve as the this year's Vanguard Showhouse location. Featuring three different condos and over 5,300 sq. ft., the theme for this year's event is urban elegance and 21st-century condominium living in downtown Albany. Albany Symphony's most significant fund raiser, the Showhouse is expected to attract over 4,000 visitors from the Capital Region and throughout neighboring communities. The Vanguard Showhouse's three-week event begins on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 and runs through Sunday, May 20, 2012. More information on the full event including prices, preview gala seminar series, group packages, gift shop, cafe lunch and reservations will be available online at www.vanguard-aso.org.

Vanguard's Sneak-a-Peek event slated for Saturday, February 25 and Sunday, February 26, 2012 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, gives guests a peek at the Showhouse's three selected condos before they are designed and decorated for the spring event. Participants will also be given access to the roof deck on the eighth floor of the building that boasts views of downtown Albany. Admission for the Sneak-a-Peak events is $10 per person at the door. Light refreshments will be served and free parking will available at metered street locations.

"In the past, Vanguard has featured both historic homes and new custom homes," said Georgette Steffens, Executive Director, Downtown Albany BID, "Choosing to use urban condos as the Showhouse this year is a return to the organization's beginnings and commitment to partnering with the downtown Albany community. From selecting Melville's Mug for their café luncheons to positioning receptions and the gala in downtown, Vanguard's loyalty extends beyond the condo project and acts as a guide for the entire event."

Vanguard was founded in July of 1963, when Sue Yager, a Principal at the New York City Opera, was a featured artist with the Albany Symphony Orchestra. In 1980, the first Vanguard Showhouse hosted a series of room vignettes at the Albany Institute of History and Art and in 1982, an entire house was featured.

"Last summer I watched the construction going on at 17 Chapel from the Albany Symphony Orchestra Office," says Barbara Richer, President, Vanguard, "It struck me that the property would bring a new positive energy and commitment to the Symphony's downtown Albany neighborhood. The renovation was bringing an existing building, with a deep history of commitment to business and artistic endeavors, back to life. For Vanguard, 17 Chapel represents interest in an area that continues to renew itself.'

Built circa 1928, the original four story, cast-in-place concrete building was designed by architect Alexander Selkirk to house the Livermore-Traendly auto dealer and repair shop. It remained a car dealership through 1965, falling under different operations, including Schuyler Hudson Auto Corp, Gateway Motors and Hickey Ford. From 1965 to 2002 the Albany City Arts and Special Events Departments had office space in the building and used a portion of it for storing election machines. Albany Center Gallery occupied the first floor space in the building while the Park Playhouse Theater Company occupied the upper floors. In 2002, Capital Repertory Theater purchased the property, using it for office, set and prop storage, set construction and rehearsal. Capital Rep sold the building to its current owners in 2008 and the historic structure was renovated to house 24 boutique condominiums.

"Downtown is rapidly becoming a residential community with over $28 million of private financing having been invested in residential development in the last eighteen months," said Mayor Jennings, "17 Chapel is Downtown's first luxury condominium project and we are proud that it has been selected to host this year's Vanguard Showcase. Each condo space is framed by the city itself with magnificent views of 400 years of Albany architecture and the Hudson River."

According to a 2011 residential market study conducted for the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District by Zimmerman/Volk Associates, overall demand for residential properties in Downtown Albany has grown exponentially within the last five years. In fact, the demand for rental properties in downtown Albany has seen a spike of 83% since 2006. In addition to an increased call for Downtown rental properties, interest in condos has also increased by 43% and the overall demand for living Downtown has grown from 2,440 to 3,750 households, in the same time frame.

Said Seth Rosenblum, President of The Rosenblum Companies, "We strongly believe in this development for downtown Albany. The emerging partnerships between the art and corporate community continues to drive our inspiration."

Founded in 1930, the Albany Symphony is one of this region's most revered music and cultural institutions, having won numerous national awards for its adventurous concert programming, recording projects, composer residencies, and innovative educational efforts involving area schools throughout the region. As the only professional symphony orchestra based within New York's Capital Region, the Albany Symphony enriches a broad and diverse regional community, engaging over 150,000 people each year across an extended geographical area. For more information on the Albany Symphony Orchestra, please visit www.albanysymphony.com.

Since 1996, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has worked to restore, promote and maintain the character and vitality of downtown Albany and improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for those who work in, live in and visit New York's Capital City. The BID is a private, not-for profit 501(c) (3) organization. For more information about Downtown Albany BID please visit www.downtownalbany.org or call (518) 465-2143.