COHOES – The city of Cohoes plans to invest $2.5 million of state funds to transform a former bank and jewelry store into the new Cohoes Public Library, according to officials.
At its Sept. 26 meeting, the Common Council approved spending $405,189 to purchase the former Cohoes Saving Bank from 12th Street Ventures LLC.
Mayor Bill Keeler stated, “It’s an iconic Cohoes building that deserves to be accessible to the public.”
The interior of the former bank features murals by David Lithgow, depicting scenes from Cohoes’ history and Native American lore. Painted in the 1950s, the building has been closed for approximately five years.
Keeler mentioned that the city could utilize $2.5 million from its $10 million state Downtown Revitalization Initiative funds to support the transformation of the library and its surroundings. Initial discussions between state officials and the city have taken place regarding investment in the library area as part of the revitalization project.
The library was forced to relocate from its previous location at the former St. John’s Episcopal Church on Mohawk Street after the building was deemed unsafe due to pieces falling onto the street. The city temporarily moved the library to the Cohoes Senior Center at 10 Cayuga Plaza, where it currently operates from smaller quarters.
Keeler also revealed plans to seek proposals for the redevelopment of the former church building into housing or commercial use. Although it will no longer house the library, private investment is expected to preserve the historic church as part of downtown Cohoes.
The city is exploring the possibility of relocating a mastodon replica from the old library building on Mohawk Street to the new location on 75 Remsen Street. Steve Napier, the city’s economic and community development director, has been measuring areas in the new building where the mastodon could be displayed.
The mastodon replica represents a famous skeleton discovered in 1866 at the Harmony Mills site. Constructed by Noah T. Clarke, the replica was originally exhibited alongside the skeleton. It was later moved to the Cohoes Public Library, where it is currently housed. The mastodon skeleton itself is on display at the State Museum in Albany.
