In 1831, there was a push in Albany to extend downtown's Pine Street. The plan was to have it continue past Chapel Street through North Pearl, all the way to Broadway.

That idea was ultimately labeled "stupid" by the 19th century residents, and that was that. Or was it?

So what happened? Simply put: 1970s urban renewal. Politicians were looking for ways to revitalize downtowns after suburbia set in. The city purchased a handful of empty buildings, including the Myers and Whitney's department stores. The idea was to demolish and replace the whole section with new buildings. One idea was a new shopping center and parking garage.

With the construction of the Ten Eyck Plaza across the street in the 1970s, Pine Street was able to reach North Pearl, and after funding for the shopping center disappeared, it finally stretched to Broadway. The cornerstones, in an otherwise old section of Albany, tell the story of the mid-1980s, when Pine Street eventually won out.