Community Builders

FOUR - Center Square and Its Neighborhood Association:Organizing Jor Success

4 Center Square andIts NeighborhoodAssociation: OrganizingJor Success What can we learn about community organizing from a neighborhood association in a gentrified neighborhood in a healthy service-sector city? The Center Square Neighborhood Association (CSNA) in Albany fits Castells's criteria for a successful urban movement: It expresses its interests clearly, and its members know what their goals are; it uses the media and the advice of experts , forms connections with officials in the local government structure, and still remains relatively autonomous (1983: 328). With CSNA's long history ofsuccessful fights with city officials and realestate developers, members have learned to use the media well and are not afraid to go to court to enforce the city's zoning ordinances. CSNA defines itselfas a nonpartisan group that tries to stay out ofparty politics. The conflict between reform Democrats and party Democrats sometimes makes it difficult for CSNA to maintain true independence, however, because it gained its strength and importance as a part ofreform forces in the city. During the 1989 campaign for the Albany Common Council, the June 15-21 issue of Metroland reported, some residents of Center Square raised the issue of organizational neutrality, complaining that the old guard of the CSNA were reform Democrats with "a standing policy ofcutting residents dead who run against their candidates." CSNA leaders denied the accusations and argued that the organization does not take part in partisan politics, Metroland reported in its June 22-28 issue: "The association neither backs nor opposes candidates. We deal with elected officials, those supported by our taxpayer dollars (not those aspiring for office)." But their relationship with city officials-demanding ser- CENTER SQUARE 6S vices as taxpayers, not as rewards for electoral support-reflects the reform view on political participation. After thirty years ofneighborhood activity CSNA members enjoy a sense of accomplishment and success. They are keenly aware that an important resource ofthe neighborhood is the education and expertise ofits residents, who in large numbers are lawyers, state workers, professors, and other professionals. Most moved to the neighborhood in the 1970s and 1980s, after the construction of Empire State Plaza, to workin the expanded service-sector economy. Theywere attracted by the beauty and historic value ofthe neighborhood buildings, and by its amenities: VVashington Park, the cultural institutions, the variety ofrestaurants and specialty stores, and proximity to the central business district, making it possible for many to walk to work. CSNA's goals-to preserve the historic value ofthe nei.ghborhood and to oppose the land-intensifying interests ofrealestate developers-are defined by the interests ofits active members, neighborhood home owners. Their allies are the agencies and individuals that help them protect the residential use ofthe neighborhood, and their enemies are those who want to raise the exchange value ofland there. In 1968, CSNA played a prominent role in developing and implementing new roning and code-enforcement ordinances, besides helping other neighborhoods start their own neighborhood associations and helping establish neighborhood improvement corporations, historical and preservation societies , and intereighborhood coalitions. In Albany, neighborhood associations are an accepted way for residents to present their interests. Neighborhood and community organizations share resources, confront officials as a bloc, and often address city problems as collective problems. CSNA established its reputation bywell-publicized and successful actions during the 1970s. In 1971, residents defeated efforts to demolish four structurally sound historic buildings to build a parking garage. In one year, 1972, CSNA successfully opposed McDonald's effort to open a restaurant in the neighborhood and, as part of a coalition of neighborhood and community groups, was instrumental in forcing the city to abandon the construction ofan elevated highway. At least two forces lay behind these successes: the neighborhood association's active work to reshape the organizational environment, and nationwide support for preserving the architectural heritage ofcities. Consolidation ofCenter SquareNeighhorhoodAssociation Center Square is a part of Capitol Hill, a neighborhood that grew up on the high grounds that surround "old" Albany. Known as Pinkster Hill in the eighteenth century, this land was used by the slaves, freedmen and freedwomen of 66 CHAPTER 4 the city for their yearly Pinkster Festival. ''Though these fetes were occasions for merriment, the tradition was of religious origin and was connected with the city's Dutch heritage. Bya city ordinance of 1811, the further erection of booths for the sale of'liquors, mead, sweetmeats' and the like was prohibited" (Roseberry 1964:101). The last Pinkster Parade took place...