Locations

Breathing Lights was sited in 200 houses, approximately 65 each in Albany, Schenectady and Troy, NY. To present an accurate snapshot of vacancy in the Capital Region, the Breathing Lights team lit almost every house that was available, regardless of location, condition or architectural features. The maps reference where houses were lit. Gray dots represent vacant buildings. Yellow dots represent vacant buildings lit by Breathing Lights. The buildings Breathing Lights lit represented less than 10% of the vacant buildings that existed in the region at the time.

Maps Overview

The maps reference where houses were lit in October and November 2016. Gray dots represent vacant buildings. Yellow dots represent vacant buildings lit by Breathing Lights. The buildings Breathing Lights lit represent less than 10% of the vacant buildings throughout the region.

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“Breathing Lights is a perfect example of our region coming together to address issues that affect us all, and demonstrates how we can be effective in working towards a common goal.” –Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan

Albany

Kathy M. Sheehan, Mayor, City of Albany

In January 2014, Kathy Sheehan became Albany, New York’s 75^th mayor. Mayor Sheehan is dedicated to unleashing Albany’s full potential, leading with a commitment to community, equity and opportunity. She is an energetic champion of the renaissance now underway in Albany and is working to revitalize all the City’s neighborhoods. Mayor Sheehan understands the transformative impact the creative economy has on the City of Albany and the Capital Region and is thrilled that Breathing Lights succeeded in winning the highly competitive Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Arts Challenge.

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“Addressing the issue of vacant buildings has been a priority of my administration, so I welcome Breathing Light’s efforts to promote a dialogue about these issues and will serve as a platform for an extremely important conversation.” –Schenectady Mayor Gary R. McCarthy

Schenectady

Gary R. McCarthy, Mayor, City of Schenectady

Gary McCarthy assumed the role of Mayor of the City of Schenectady in 2011, bringing with him more than 30 years of experience in government and a reputation as a hands-on, accessible, public servant who believes that government can be a force for positive change in the lives of its residents. Together, a team of city and county leaders created a unified economic development strategy under the umbrella of Metroplex, and the results have been impressive. As Mayor, he has been committed to bringing the same transformation seen downtown to the neighborhoods. Mayor McCarthy has brought a continuing and consistent focus on code enforcement and distressed properties.

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“Breathing Lights offers the unique opportunity to both highlight the important issues associated with vacancy, while also celebrating the potential for life that exists within some of our neighborhoods.” –Troy Mayor Patrick Madden

Troy

Patrick Madden, Mayor, City of Troy

Patrick Madden was elected Mayor of the City of Troy in November 2015, running on a campaign dedicated to strengthening the city’s neighborhoods, confronting the challenge of urban blight, improving fiscal oversight of city finances and expanding economic opportunity in Troy’s communities. Previously, Mayor Madden served for 30 years as Executive Director of the Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program (TRIP), a community development corporation with a strong commitment to providing a path to home ownership through financial management counseling and educational programing, helping over thousands of families purchase their first home.

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