It is uncertain where the additional funding for the renovations of the Eastern Approach of the Capitol in Albany will come from or if it is included in Governor Hochul’s upcoming budget plan. A spokesperson for Hochul stated to The Post that the Governor is dedicated to investing in Albany and enhancing the State’s Capitol to make New Yorkers proud. The Office of General Services has initiated a competitive procurement process to select a contractor for the much-needed renovations. Due to legal constraints, further details cannot be provided while the procurement process is ongoing.
The Eastern Approach of the Capitol, including the 77 steps and promenade by the Romanesque entrance, has been closed since 2015 due to poor drainage and structural issues. A study commissioned during Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration in 2014 revealed significant problems, leading to emergency repairs. The initial repair cost estimate was $17 million.
In her first budget as governor, Hochul and the legislature allocated $41 million for the repairs, but progress has been slow. The current estimated cost for the repairs is $80 million, nearly double the original appropriation. The timeline for completion, initially suggested as spring 2028, is now uncertain, with the repair process estimated to take four years.
Although bidding for the $80 million contract closed in October, only two firms submitted bids—Louis C. Allegrone, Inc. and Consigli Construction. Consigli Construction has a track record of significant projects, including repairs to the Capitol’s roof and the Egg performing arts center. The contract award for the Eastern Approach project is pending, with Hochul’s administration aiming to open it to the public.
An announcement regarding the project’s status is expected soon. Project documents indicate plans to create a corridor under the stairs to allow restricted access for VIPs during construction. The price tag for the repairs increased to over $80 million. Hochul recently proposed a $400 million investment in state buildings, including those in Albany, as part of her State of the State address.
In 1897, a new addition was completed to the building that had first opened its doors 18 years prior. This particular perch has served as a stage for many politicians throughout the years. Among them was then-Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy, who stood on the steps as he campaigned for the presidency in September of 1960.
“I stand where three distinguished Governors of the State of New York have stood – Theodore Roosevelt, Al Smith, and Franklin Roosevelt – as candidates for the office of the Presidency,” Kennedy declared from the historic platform.
It is said that Teddy Roosevelt would sprint up these very steps as part of his morning exercise routine during his time in Albany. And nearly three decades before Kennedy’s address, then New York Governor Al Smith accepted the Democratic nomination for president on this very approach.
This spot holds a unique place in political history, where the echoes of past leaders reverberate through time, providing a symbolic backdrop for aspirations and declarations alike.
