The 3rd & Congress CrapShack (TM), former home to a parade of horrid restaurants
On the Northwestern corner of 3rd Street and Congress Street, adjacent to downtown’s worst bus stop lies one of downtown’s worst buildings, the iconic CrapShack pictured above. It was home to such important, vibrant businesses as KFC, a Chinese Restaurant and god knows what else, but now sits primarily as a monument to self-inflicted urban decay.
100 years ago, this site was home to a vaudevillian theater and several storefronts. At some point the whole damned shebang burned to the ground (Rensselaer County Historical Society actual has a picture of the place on fire in their archives). Some years later, the then-residents of Troy acquiesced to allow the current building to be constructed. As near as I can tell, it must have been because they were lazy, desperate, or because they hated themselves and their city.
I’m not going to claim to be an expert in urban planning or architecture, but I hope we can all agree that a design that might as well have been airlifted from a Latham Farms outparcel (see, e.g., Red Robin or McDonald’s) is not appropriate at one the busiest intersections in the heart of downtown.
Even if we can’t agree on the aesthetics of the thing, the place has been empty for years, and clearly hasn’t been much of an asset to downtown. Soon it may be gone for good.
"Demolition Site Plan Review"
It’s getting demolished. I think 9 times out of 10 if my choices are “building” or “empty lot”, I’d choose “building.” However, for several reasons, I believe the demolition of the CrapShack should be applauded.
(1) The CrapShack is literally a run down shack made of crap. I can’t stress that enough.
(2) Half of the parcel is already an “empty lot” of parking. Can’t make it any emptier.
(3) I doubt anyone would destroy the CrapShack unless they had something to replace it with.
Looks to be a good chance to make our downtown a bit less crappy. Anyone who cares to should show up at the meeting 6pm on the 21st, I’m assuming it will be held at City Hall. I should have gotten a couple photos of the sign so the entire thing could be read….apologies.
Great news! I agree that this is one of those few instances when an empty lot would be vastly preferable to what’s there. If a McDonald’s was turned into a terrifying haunted house, it would look like the CrapShack. Even if the whole parcel was converted to parking, it wouldn’t be the end of the world – that part of town could use the extra parking. But I do hope something good is going in. Please keep us posted!
While not my first choice, a new Donuts would still be an improvement over what’s there now:
http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Dunkin-Donuts-wants-new-shop-at-Troy-corner-3615053.php
Thanks for the update Brendan. Looking forward to seeing the proposed design.
I watched the Rand Theater burn to the ground. Had the United Cigar store in it, donut shop with big round donut sign, Patricellis Pizza (best pizza in town) and a Mikes Sub. The Crap was built as a Jack in the Box and I never did find Jack in there. Ironically it is where I first met Lynn Kopka, now City Council Prez. She worked there while in college. Tacos were ok. It was a fun place in those days. Tear it down.
Every time I drive by it, I think- that’s a booming bus stop, and there’s no where for anyone to sit and wait in comfort. I kept thinking it would make a good spot for a classy bodega until I realized (I’d been looking one way and not the other every time) there’s already one across the street. A nice pigeon park (like Barker at 3rd and State) with a classy new CDTA shelter would really spruce the corner up.
DUNKINS? MEH
I agree, even parking would be an improvement over this derelict monstrosity. It makes the corner scarier. Rubble would be an improvement. Isn’t there a Dunkin’ Donuts somewhere very nearby? So will that mean a vacancy somewhere else? I guess even something new and horrid would at least be new, and might make that corner a little more attractive.
It’s the sort of place that even the facelift didn’t help. Back when it was built, they thought you could improve a city by giving is a suburb transplant. Since then, we’ve discovered (rediscovered) local character.
Remember when the steel siding went up on the former Grant’s on the corner of Broadway & Third in 1972? It was hailed as a modern and indestructible improvement to our cityscape. In two weeks you could read the name of every kid who passed by, scratched in with a quarter. Kudos to David Bryce for his beautiful restoration!
Looks like the planning board approved the new Dunkin’s.
http://www.timesunion.com/business/article/Proposal-for-City-Station-East-is-unveiled-3797029.php
(very bottom of the article)