McKownville
Improvement Association
- About the Association
Purpose of the Association
The Association aims to improve and preserve the amenities and
qualities of this residential neighborhood, working with
residents, and in cooperation with the Town of Guilderland and
Albany County. In recent years the Association has held six public
meetings each year in March, April, May, September, October and
November. Speakers invited by the Association board make
presentations and take questions on local issues; these include
town, county and state government officials and elected
representatives. The president also makes announcements of events
and issues of current interest or concern to the neighborhood. The
flyers distributed to announce past meetings
illustrate the topics and the kind of issues that can be
anticipated. The Association does not endorse any candidates for
public office.
Officers and Board members
Officers serve one year terms. Board members serve three year
terms. Elections are held annually.
Some history of the Association
The Association was founded in 1924, largely by the same group of residents
who organized the McKownville Volunteer Fire Department
successfully in 1917-18. The initial focus of the Association was
to obtain the installation of pipes to supply (coal-generated)
gas, which occurred by 1928 on streets bordering the north side of
Western Avenue. The Association in its early years also
successfully promoted lighting along Western Avenue, and paving of
the side streets, and attempted unsuccessfully to have the Western
Avenue trolley extended past the Albany City line. The Association
did succeed in getting bus service extended, first to the Albany
Country Club entrance on Western Avenue and later to Fuller Road.
[Knickerbocker Press article 8th April 1928; scan1; scan2; text pdf]
[Summary of Association business 1924-1955 by Fred Abele; text pdf]
[The McKownville Improvement Association 1924-1984 by Don Reeb; text pdf]
In recent times, the Association has
succeeded in getting flood and groundwater issues of the
neighborhood on the path to remediation, with the Town of
Guilderland having obtained substantial funding for the construction project recently completed
in parts of McKownville to replace the aging water pipes and
install a new storm drain system. Other recent projects supported
by the Association included promoting walking accessibility with
the installation of sidewalks on Western Avenue and Fuller Road,
and pedestrian safety by the installation of crosswalk controls,
and reduction of the speed limit on Fuller Road.
[list of McKownville Improvement Association improvements
2000-2015 by Don Reeb; scan pdf]
Current Association projects are listed on the projects page.
Archive documents (minutes, letters, reports, announcements, etc):
1925-41;
1945-62;
1963-72;
1973-82;
1983-93;
[1994-2000];
2001-2010;
2011-2020;
Contributions to the Association
There are presently no formal dues.
However, small voluntary contributions to the running costs of the
non-profit Association will be gratefully received,
and should be sent to the Treasurer, McKownville Improvement
Association, 1445 Western Avenue, Albany NY 12203.