Offers sought for senior center

Lawmakers hope for better deal on Troy building

TROY, N.Y. » Rensselaer County officials are now looking for any potential better deals for the purchase of the county senior center on Third Street in downtown Troy.

The Rensselaer County Legislature tabled a vote at the end of 2017 that would have allowed the sale of the Troy Area Senior Services Center’s current home at 19 3rd St., making way for the county to move the center into the Italian Community Center building at 1450 5th Ave. Under the original agreement, the county would pay $685,000 for the ICC building and sell the 3rd Street building for $575,000 to developer David Bryce.

A previous sale agreement had been reached by the county and a purchaser, but county officials said this week they were concerned that a request for pro- posals that could have netted a higher price for the county was not made.

The County Legislature will consider a resolution to authorize the county to seek purchase proposals at Tuesday’s legislative meeting. The resolution seeking the proposals was introduced by County Executive Steve McLaughlin.

“We want to make sure county taxpayers and residents who rely on these senior services get the best deal possible,” said county Director of Operations Richard Crist. “Senior services now provided at the current Troy senior center will continue and not be interrupted.”

The county had also reached a

tentative deal to purchase the Italian Community Center, in anticipation of a sale of the current Troy senior center. The resolution to allow for proposals to be sought from potential purchasers of the Troy senior center will be considered at the Feb. 13 legislative meeting.

“We believe it is prudent to seek proposals from interested parties for the Troy senior center to ensure we get the best price, and the sale is conducted as legally and openly as possible,” said Crist.

The previous administration, under former County Executive Kathleen Jimino, believed that mov-

ing the center will help seniors, who found parking to be a significant problem in seeking services at the 3rd Street facility, limiting attendance at activities and events that include health and wellness programs, as well as congregate and home- delivered meal services. Jimino’s administration believed that moving to the ICC addresses this, as its parking lot allows for 108 vehicles.

Crist said county officials are also reviewing possible secondary costs if the county moves to the ICC, including costs for renovating or altering the ICC for senior use. Crist estimated that those costs could exceed $ 200,000 over the coming years if the county purchases the ICC. County officials also noted a $100,000 increase in the

purchase price at the ICC once negotiations with the county progressed.

“We have not ruled out the ICC as a possible location. But any agreement obviously comes after a sale of the senior center is finalized,” said Crist.

The ICC had been among the options considered in 2016 by a special committee tasked by the City Council to examine the future of City Hall, which is currently in leased space on the fifth floor of the Hedley Park Place building on River Street. That committee eventually recommended the city eye a move into an existing building, specifically recommending the ICC, but the council and Troy Mayor Patrick Madden never took action on that recommendation.

The organization that runs the ICC has been looking to sell the building for more than a year, citing declining enrollment as a major factor. In talks with the city committee, they had mentioned the possibility of retaining some space in the building in return for a reduction in the sale price, but that was not included in its deal with the county.