” Grand Street Community Arts works with teens to initiate Vacant Lot Project to transform abandoned urban property in distressed neighborhoods in Albany, New York.” - Barbara Shema, July 2009, see article.

The Vacant Lot Project began as a new GSCA summer program in 2009. The idea was simple, choose a vacant lot in the South End of Albany and transform it in to a usable, community space.

Urban planning professionals and four teenagers from the City of Albany Summer Youth Employment Program set out to do just that. They researched many vacant lots in the South End and found that the properties were owned either by the Albany Housing Authority, the City of Albany, or private owners. The group met with the city and gave a presentation about their desire to transform vacant lots, especially one on Elizabeth St. in the South End, which they wanted to make an outdoor summer theater constructed of recyclable materials.

Since the initiation of the Vacant Lot Project, the city has invited GSCA to formally submit a project proposal for any city owned site we want to transform. Now we are calling on the community for creative help! We invite individuals or groups to get involved by submitting a project proposal to GSCA. If your project is chosen, we will present it to the property owner.

For more information email vacantlotproject@grandarts.org or call (518) 433-0679.