Erie Blvd. Yard history

I have seen pictures of the Erie Boulevard in Albany (behind Huck Finns) in the 1960s, I have seen pictures in 1984 of it being torn up, and pictures in 1986 with it all gone. But, does anyone have more information on this area? Did the removal of the track begin in 1984 or several years earlier? How long did it take to finish the work? I ask because this is one of the main areas that I want to model and am trying to set the "year" that I will model.
Thanks.