Albany Times Union reports
The city proceeded this morning to tear down a partially collapsed 21st Street home as well as an adjacent house even though officials had failed to tell one of the occupants.
A demolition crew began about 10:30 a.m. this morning, razing two homes at 303 and 301 21st St.
Just after 1 p.m., Derrick Basle sped to the scene only to see the home he grew up in being chewed apart by a large demolition backhoe. Basle, who lived in the basement of 301 21st St., was told over the weekend that the city would hold a court hearing today at 1 on the fate of his and his parents' home.
"They must have decided this before the court hearing," said an emotional Basle after he talked to a city police officer on the scene.
Earlier in the day, after the order was announced, residents as well as Basle were allowed to remove items from the home. Basle thought he would have his day in court but arrived at the court to find the hearing had been cancelled.
"I'm really too upset to talk right now," he said, staring at the large pile of wood, bricks, furniture and appliances that was once his home.
A wall of 301 21st Street collapsed March 9 and the city was going to tear it down and try to save 303 21st Street, but city officials said the other building, because it stood only inches from the other, would be too severely damaged during demolition and had to come down as well.
Last week, the owner of 303, Richard Albagli, went to court to try and get permission to enter his home to retrieve valuable possessions.
A judge denied the man's request.
Albagli said he was willing to risk his life to preserve books, a box of musical instruments, videos and antique puzzles inside the three-story home, his residence of 30 years."Some of them are antiques and irreplaceable," Albagli testified in Albany County Court last week during an emergency hearing. "I'd like to get at least some of them out."
Thanks to Jonathan Turley
Why were they tearing it down in the first place?
am a member of the Empire Youth Orchestra, an organization in which Richard Albagli is heavily involved. I was appalled when I heard about the court's treatment towards him and his possessions. Mr. Albagli is a musician, composer, and arranger. Many of the pieces that he poured his heart and soul into were destroyed no thanks to the court's refusal to sympathize with a man who was willing to risk everything to retrieve his prized possessions.Why couln't the court understand that he had dear family hierlooms and pictures in his home?As a musician, I must say that I would feel completely empty and torn apart if anything were to happen to my intruments. I just wish that the people who did this to Mr. Albagli could just see that.