Judging by what it says at the top, the Schultz Building on First Avenue S.E. is 108 years old this year.
Aimlessly wandering around central Albany, as I did on New Year’s Day, you come across an interesting sight now and then. Today’s example: the storefront in the two-story brick building at 212 First Ave. S.E.
Years ago — I mean maybe 20 or 30 years ago — the place used to house a porn shop, arousing a good deal of local indignation, which eventually wore off. (The Nissen Ford shop was on the other side of Baker Street to the west, and when they were done with the service on your truck, they would park it in the lot across the street. When you picked it up, you always hoped nobody would mistake you for a customer of 212 First.)
Later the building changed hands or uses, or both. In 2009, the CARA downtown urban renewal board authorized a forgivable loan of up to $45,000 or 50 percent of the cost of making the upstairs usable as an apartment. This entailed installing a sprinkler system, among other things. The cost of improvements was more than $90,000, and two years later, in January 2011, the CARA program indeed forgave the loan, turning it into a $45,000 grant.
For a while the storefront housed an antique store, if memory serves. Now it displays some classic cars from, I think, the 1960s or ’70s. You can see the cars when you peer through the plate glass in front.
What you can also see is a card sitting on the floor. It says the cars and indeed the building and the parking lot next door are for sale. And it invites you, if you have an interest in either the cars or the real estate, to write your contact information down and slip it through the mail slot in the door.
The asking prices are not stated. But for the building itself and the lot it sits on, the Linn County assessor has estimated a market value of $115,280. So if you’re interested, drop a card through the slot and try to make a deal. (hh)
This Pontiac is one of the cars you can admire through the window.
That card on the floor invites offers for the vehicles or the real estate.
I live a couple blocks from there. Maybe 5 years ago it was a weird thrift store called Acquire Within. I think they were only open on certain Saturdays. The name confused me because I thought they were trying to find someone to work there. Looks like their Facebook page still exists and has that address on it.
https://www.facebook.com/acquirewithinalbany/
It was listed for sale in 2015. The apartment upstairs is actually quite beautiful. The building was listed for $425k and the parking lot for $100k.
So, CARA helped fix the building up with $45,000 of taxpayer money, and now the owners who got that loan that turned into a grant are selling it and taking the profit? I’m confused. Is that how CARA works sometimes? Your thoughts on this, Hasso.
I was so close and didn’t even know it. I have to get my mom to read this article. Thank you Hasso, I now have plans for tomorrow. Going to visit my dream car.
Nice cars hidden away!
One could say that this was better as a porn dvd & toy shop as opposed to hiding this American muscle away. These cars would be better out on a Sunday drive. Certainly do not look like they get out often.
Not a Chevy fan but is that a black Camaro hidden in the way back (pic 2)?
I know the owners, both are wonderful people. They have spent years lovingly remodeling the upstairs apartment it is quite exquisite. The shop owner, when it was Aquire Within had an eye for decorating found the most beautiful treasures. I believe they are getting ready to retire and relocate. Her Husband is a car restoration expert and rebuilt all those beautiful cars from the ground up with his own 2 hands. Really lovely people. I cherish our friendship. I would love to own this building!
That free CARA money should help their retirement. Good for them.