Begun in 1856 and dedicated in 1860, St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was Albany's third parish founded to serve the Irish population associated with the construction of the Erie Canal. This building was designed by architect Patrick Keely of Brooklyn and served a thriving congregation in the Arbor Hill neighborhood near 18th century Ten Broeck Mansion until 1993. It was closed at that time due to fears that the roof could collapse from an unstable pillar. 
The church has changed hands several times since it was deemed unsafe, and it is currently held by Historic Albany, a group that is raising funds through donations and grants to rehabilitate the property. This grass roots effort has raised a total of $90,000 towards a goal of $150,000 through various events and gift matching.
Considering that I'm an agnostic, my fascination with churches seems odd. I find their architecture beautiful. I wish they were grocery stores, restaurants, or gas stations so I could get some use out of them instead of just driving by!
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