The Pearl Street Project

In 2022, the Pearl Street Project told the stories of Albany’s historic and vibrant Pearl Street in the pages, both printed and virtual, of the Times Union. The project benefited from a unique collaboration between Albany Public Library, whose North Albany Branch and Howe Branch practically bookend Pearl Street, and the Times Union. This partnership, supported by the nonprofit Library Futures and assisted by Hearken, aimed to amplify the voices of community members in telling stories about Albany’s Pearl Street.

The Articles:

Albany’s Pearl Street, a once-humming cityscape, struggles to survive

Two sides of Pearl Street in photos

Urban stereotypes and decades of disinvestment bruised Pearl Street

How’s business on Pearl Street? It depends on who you ask

Millions invested in North Pearl, South Pearl suffers ‘benign neglect’ from investors

Downtown Albany community members focus on uplifting South Pearl Street   

Answers to 5 questions about Pearl Street’s past      

Reporting about the project:

Are Libraries the Future of Media? (Popula, 8/7/23)