HOME OF ITS OWN
Committee recommends officials look at rennovating existing buildings for City Hall
TROY, N.Y. >> While admitting new construction was their preferred option, members of a committee appointed last year to look at the future location of City Hall admit in their final report the city’s financial problems make renovating an existing building a more-realistic possibility.
In that report, unveiled during Thursday’s meeting of the City Council’s Finance Committee, the 12-member panel appointed by the City Council listed several possible buildings to look at, but specifically recommended city leaders consider purchasing the Italian Community Center on 5th Avenue.
“When we first started, we had originally thought we would like to have a new facility, something built,” committee chairwoman Teri Kippen told the council Thursday night. “Many
people wanted a presence; however, with the budget being what it is, it’s just not feasible, so the committee started looking at other options, including the re-use of existing space. Repurposing a current building would seem to be a good option.”
Kippen said the building appeared to fit the city’s needs, and committee member Andrea Daly said that while she does not believe the building is actually listed for sale, the organization is open to negotiations.
“It has parking, it’s handicap-accessible, it has the square-footage that would accommodate our needs,” Kippen said. “It is also close to the county office buildings. That whole section of Troy could become a government center.”
City government has not had a permanent home of its own since the 36-yearold City Hall building in Monument Square was demolished in 2010. The city has been leasing space in lieu of its own building since 2009, first in the Verizon building on 6th Avenue before moving into Hedley Park Place three years later. Kippen admitted building on the vacated lot in Monument Square was everybody’s ultimate preference, but the group realized that was not a realistic option in the city’s current economic climate.
“Many of us truly believe that a city as rich in history as our beloved Troy should have a municipal building and community space that reflects our rich background. Really, that place is Monument Square; however, with the monetary issues that are facing Troy, not only do we lack the resources for such a capital project, Monument Square is a valuable tax generator and means for economic development. Right now, it wouldn’t be prudent for us to build something there.” Past discussions of buying or constructing a building of its own – which have included locations such as the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and the former home of The Record on Broadway – have never progressed far, mainly because of the city’s precarious finances. The city pays $360,000 a year to First Columbia to lease the Hedley Park Place space under terms of a 10-year deal signed in 2012, after spending more than $635,000 annually to lease the Verizon space, on top of $650,000 to renovate that space and $70,000 to prepare its current home. Beyond the price, Kippen pointed out other concerns, including the lack of signage to let people know City Hall is located on the fifth floor of the Hedley building, as well as a lack of available parking during business hours. She also said some people — especially older people — may find it intimidating to try to find their way around a large commercial building to access city services. Council President Carmella Mantello, who formed the committee last summer, said she appreciated the feedback from a group that included experts in real estate and development, finance, architecture and technology, as well as council members Jim Gulli, R-District 1, Robert
Doherty, D-District 4, and John Donohue, R-District 6. Mantello said the council would take a month to review the report before coming up with its own recommendations.
“We really wanted to get some folks on a committee with diverse backgrounds … to get together and take a look at this,” Mantello said during the meeting. “Is it suiting our needs? Yeah, it’s suiting our needs, but is it cost- effective?”
Daly and Kippen said they believed the asking price for the Italian Community center was about $700,000, but have said the group may be willing to take less money if the city would allow them to remain in part of the building, saying they have too much space for their current needs.
“The committee was very encouraged with the ICC,” Kippen said. “With what we’re paying [in rent], in a little more than two years, we could own the building.”
The committee recommended Mayor Patrick Madden have a cost analysis compiled that would examine not only purchase or construction costs, but also utility and maintenance costs. Madden said he wanted to closely review the report before making any commitment, but admitted finances will play a major factor.
“It all comes down to numbers, whether we can build cheaper than we can rehab, whether they might be grant funding available,” he said after Thursday’s council meeting. “I don’t know if there is, but these are all things we can look at. I am not predisposed one way or the other, but the numbers have to work.”