Vanishing Views: 20th Century Urban Renewal in Gloversville

Beginning in 1949, the federal government provided grants and loans to cities through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to fund urban renewal projects. This process involved the seizure and demolition of property in an effort to improve infrastructure and modernize cities. In reality, this often meant the destruction of historic structures, and disproportionately affected low-income communities and small businesses. The Empire State Plaza in Albany is perhaps one of the state’s most well-known urban renewal projects, spearheaded by Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller. But smaller cities, like Gloversville, also undertook these projects, for better or for worse.

Utilizing newspaper archives, city records, and other resources, explore the history of Gloversville’s urban renewal projects, from the proposed Midtown Park to the never-completed “ring road.” Learn how these efforts affected the community and take a tour through photos to see just what has changed downtown.

Fulton County Historical Society programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.