Pine Hills Neighborhood Association forms Saint Rose closure committee

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Making sure Pine Hills doesn't go downhill. That's the aim of a new committee by the neighborhood's association. It's calling for more transparency in talks between officials about the neighborhood's future once The College of St Rose Closes. 

The Pine Hills Neighborhood Association says the new committee will conduct research, talk with closure stakeholders, represent the community at meetings, gather feedback from neighbors, and present their findings and actionable recommendations to their board. 

“We're looking forward to continuing conversations and continued involvement in engagement, and having our collective voices be heard,” Association President Dannielle Melendez told us via phone.

They can't, however, actually do anything about the future vacant campus buildings. Those are controlled by property bondholders.

“Vacancies is a huge concern. We don't know what will happen, and what the timeline will be for when the properties will be purchased,” Melendez continued.

Common Councilman Owusu Anae who represents Pine Hills, says the decisions that will be made aren't just about St Rose anymore.

“The members of our community, particularly the small business owners, the longtime residents, the homeowners, it's going to impact our residents” Anane added.

Small business owners like Jermaine Carter of Motor Oil Coffee. Less than a year after opening he got the double blow of Saint Rose and the next-door Madison Theater closing.

“It's putting a damper on our one-year anniversary celebration that we're planning said Carter.

“Last summer was the Barbenheimer. It was a pink latte that we came up with for the Barbie and Oppenheimer movie. And it was wildly successful and it was successful because the theater was there" Carter continued.

But it isn't all doom and gloom. Carter hopes continuing community events like book clubs will help keep his business afloat. Councilman Anane agrees that Pine Hills isn't over the hill just yet.

"It's still a walkable neighborhood we have the library. There's a whole host of things and I think that's one thing that's underscored is the people that live in this neighborhood. They care about our community and they are not going anywhere,” Anane said optimistically.

The association hopes to organize a meeting with the St Rose Board of Trustees as well as bondholders to get full transparency on the future of the neighborhood.