Dear Friends,

We are looking forward to BUILT 2025 – a weekend of celebrating the art, artists and architecture of the Capital Region. Historic Albany Foundation is planning activities for everyone including the annual art exhibit and auction, a cocktail reception that will be held on the evening of Saturday, November 8th, as well as the Holiday Shop, and free gallery hours that will be open to the public throughout the weekend.

In keeping with HAF’s mission and to highlight the ongoing issue of urban churches being vacated, HAF will be holding the event at Emmanuel Baptist Church located at 275 State Street in Albany’s Center Square neighborhood. In addition, the Honorary Committee/Sponsor pre-party will be held next door to the church at the David Hinchen Gallery, located at 261 State Street, a building that sat vacant for over ten years until David lovingly restored it as a multi-family dwelling. We are excited to be able to highlight these two buildings as part of the weekend long event.

We were thrilled to be invited to Chair this year’s Honorary Committee. We have been long-time supporters of Historic Albany Foundation. Our first visit to HAF’s office was on Hudson Avenue in October 1979 when we came to Albany on a field trip from the Historic Preservation Planning program at Cornell University (where we had recently met, leading to another form of history!). We have been members since around 1982, when we married and settled in Albany (then never left). As a project manager in the NYS Office of Mental Health, Karen served in the additional capacity of Agency Preservation Officer (“you’re here, you’ve heard of preservation, it’s yours”) for more than 30 years. Rich joined the staff of the Albany City Planning Office in early 1986, eventually serving for almost 30 years as the City’s Historic Preservation Planner. As you can see, historic preservation has been in our blood for a very long time. We also haven’t shied away from the other cultural treasures of the Capital District like art (the Albany Institute of History and Art, where we’re long-time members and Karen served on the board) and the performing arts (Proctors, the NYC Ballet at SPAC). Funny how we see a lot of you in many different places!

It so happens that the venue for this year’s BUILT also has a special place in our hearts. When the City began the celebration of First Night as part of the Albany Tricentennial festivities in 1986, we volunteered to host in one of the many sites for half of the evening. That site was the community hall of Emmanuel Baptist Church!

We invite you to join us on the Honorary Committee this year as we celebrate the good works of Historic Albany Foundation to fulfill its mission to preserve and protect the architecture in Albany.

We look forward to welcoming you to The David Hinchen Gallery at 5pm and Emanuel Baptist Church following on Saturday, November 8th for our exhibition and auction of the very best art representing the architecture of the Capital Region by some of the most talented local artists – all art sales equally benefit the mission of Historic Albany Foundation and the artists themselves.

Please respond by Friday, September 5, 2025 for your name to appear in the invitation. Thank you in advance for your continued support. Should you have any questions, please reach out to HAF 518-465-0876. https://www.historic-albany.org/built

Sincerely,

Rich & Karen Nicholson

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Built Honorary Committee

By Historic Albany Foundation Inc

Built Honorary Committee