City Hall cost comparison released

 

This graph comparing current costs of operating Troy City Hall in a privately-owned commercial building to projected costs of operating in a City-owned former downtown theater building has just been released by the Mantello administration.

More information, including the full lease, renderings, draft floor plans, and other information are available online.

City Council is scheduled to vote on a lease for the new sit at its regular meeting this Thursday, November 6.

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Fall cleanup proceeds despite the rain

 

Thursday's heavy downpour didn't deter the Skyview Landscaping crew from attacking the thick coverlet of leaves that the rain drove to the ground over the past few days.

We Troy residents have experienced more than 5½ inches of rain this month alone (go here to keep track of Troy-area precipitation), which makes groundskeeping particularly difficult, but Skyview has been at it on a weekly basis.

On Thursday, a large crew of green-jacketed workers, wielding all sorts of cleanup machinery, were seen all over the Terrace unclogging walkways, lawns, and other areas where leaves had accumulated, and doing some light trimming of ornamental shrubs.

Here are a few other images of the effort:

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THCA Board reorganizes for 2026-27 term

The Board of the Terrace at Highpointe Community Association met Thursday evening (October 30) for a reorganization meeting, That is a required step after our biannual elections, which this year took place at our member meeting on October 13.

As explained at the member meeting, Terrace residents elect the Board and the Board then elects people to specific offices for two-year terms.

Here is the Board for 2026-27, effective on January 1:

• President: Bill Dowd

• President Emeritus: Steven Sanders

• Treasurer: Peg Savchik

• Secretary: Bill Shover

• Members: Jerry Gordon, Ned Alaskey, Sid Legg

Continuing a practice we began last year, Bill will continue to be our liaison with Skyview Landscaping for lawn care matters and Steve will be the liaison with the same company on matters having to do with snow removal. 

Our current committee rosters (chairperson listed first):

• Architectural: Tom Savchik, Bill Dowd, Dick Harte 

• Grounds: Ned Alaskey, Bill Shover

• Beautification: Paula Fox-Murphy, Janet Fowler, Fred Fowler, Ellen Gordon 

• Rules: Jerry Gordon, Bill Dowd, Steven Sanders 

• Finance: Peg Savchik, Jerry Gordon 

• Nominating: Sid Legg, Joan Richardson, Paula Fox-Murphy

If you have any desire to assist on any of these committees, please contact its chairperson. 

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Farmers Market moving indoors as of Saturday

The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market will move from the Monument Square area to the Troy Atrium for its indoor winter season this Saturday.

The weekly market, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., will stay indoors through April. Management says most of the 100-or-so summer vendors will set up shop inside.

The market will be expanding to the second floor to include an indoor dining area where customers will be able to eat prepared food from vendors. 

The Troy Atrium is located downtown, with entrances on Fulton Street, 3rd Street, Broadway,  and 4th Street. Free parking is available in the City’s 5th Street Parking Garage, in Riverfront Park, on the Green Island Bridge lots, and on city streets. No dogs are allowed in the Atrium, except for service animals. 

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Oakwood Avenue partial closing on Saturday

Google map

If you plan on driving south on Oakwood Avenue on Saturday, you'd be well-advised to select an alternate route if you'll be going past the entrance to Frear Park.

City of Troy workers are scheduled to perform "water tap maintenance," according to a city-issued alert, on Oakwood between Middleburgh Street and Hoosick Street (Route 7) much of the day. They'll be on the job from approximately 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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New TPD foot patrols begin in the 'Burgh

Video announces new police foot patrols. / City of Troy

Anyone who has noticed some physical cleanup of the Lansingburgh neighborhood -- new investment in old homes, ongoing conversions of repurposed industrial buildings into apartments, demolition of ghost buildings, etc. --  might be interested in yet another step being made to try improving the quality of life in the 2nd Avenue corridor.

Now, effective this afternoon, Troy Police Department walking patrols are being put in place in the 'Burgh to increase police presence aimed at improving safety and security.

Click on this link for a video that explains what's going on.

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Add clock-watching to your weekend to-do list

In addition to anything else you plan to do this coming weekend, here's a reminder to do some clock-watching on Saturday night.

That's because Daylight Saving Time (DST) ends at 2 a.m. Sunday and we return to Eastern Standard Time (EST).

Unless you're a real night owl, making the change when you go to bed on Saturday is the smart thing to do. Theoretically, you then will get an "extra" hour of sleep to make up for the hour you "lost" when we went to DST back in March.

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Helping Sidewalk Warriors year-round

Those Terrace residents who have been contributing clothing items to the Troy charity organization called Sidewalk Warriors at our holiday luncheons for the past few years might be interested in this activity update.

Each Thursday evening in the parking lot at 35 State Street in Troy, dozens of volunteers set up tables for their weekly distribution. Visitors can find hot foods, sandwiches, produce, pantry items and essentials. The group often provides distribution of such items as towels, linens, pillows, winter boots, underwear, socks, and laundry detergent. 

The people who attend the distribution may, according to Sidewalk Warriors, "be experiencing homelessness or food insecurity, or they may simply be running short on resources at the end of the month."

Set up for the weekly distribution events begins at 5 p.m. each Thursday, and volunteers begin serving at 6 p.m., "no matter the weather." 

Additional information about the Sidewalk Warriors is available online here and here.

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Don't trash it, smash it!

That headline is the title of an upcoming City of Troy pumpkin recycling project.

The free family-centric event is scheduled for Knickerbacker Park at 103rd Street and 8th Avenue from Wednesday through Friday, November 5-7. 

The idea is that rather than cluttering up your garbage cans with post-Halloween pumpkins, the project allows residents to bring them to the park where "we will smash, smush, and recycle them. All smashing supplies will be provided." Plus," free face painting for kids!"

(If that's not convenient, you can drop off your pumpkins at the Department of Public Works (DPW) Garage at 40 Orr Street from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, November 8.)

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Let there be (more) light

New solar light installation at the mailbox kiosk.

As mentioned at Monday's THCA annual meeting, the Board has been working on removing the mailbox lighting line from Ellen Gordon's National Grid service. Today, we took another step toward a finish to the project, as explained in this email note that went out to the community:

"Neighbors:

"There is a new solar-powered light fixture in the mailbox kiosk.

"This is a temporary installation, what engineers might call "proof-of concept." Once we're sure the illumination level is adequate and it's operating properly (i.e., it comes on dimly at dusk and gets brighter when it senses motion), we'll do a more professional-looking installation."

-- Jerry Gordon

New lighting in "resting" mode. Its sensor raises
the level when it detects motion.

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All aboard!

 

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A guide to VPN cybersecurity

Shane Pratt

• At the THCA Annual Meeting on October 13, Terrace resident Shane Pratt (No. 11) discussed VPNs (virtual private networks) used for cybersecurity. He offered to share information based on his professional expertise. 

Here is his guide, for which we thank Shane.

 

• Always download from the official website, not from pop-up ads or random links. 

• Once installed, the VPN usually just needs you to click a button to “turn it on.” 

• You can set it to connect automatically whenever you go online.

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Highlights from our annual THCA meeting

We gathered at Faith Lutheran Church on October 13 for our annual member meeting. 

Some highlights of the event (details to be contained in an email from Secretary Ellen Gordon):

• Zero dues increase for 2026.

• Zero price increase for lawn application services  (fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, etc.) from Vinmar Solutions LLC for next year.

• Zero second-year price increase for snow removal services from Skyview Landscaping after a modest increase for the first year of a 24-month extension.

• Reelection of the current THCA Board, with the exception of Ellen Gordon who decided to step down, for the 2026-27 term as well as the election of newcomer Peg Savchik.

        • Taking steps to move our mailbox kiosk lighting system to a solar-powered installation.

        • Ellen Gordon was appointed to the Beautification Committee to cover the winter period during which other "snowbird" members are not in town.

        • Planned repairs for next spring/summer include painting and caulking portions of the Terrace sign off Oakwood Avenue and the mailbox kiosk. 

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Mantello reveals 2026 budget proposal

Mayor Carmella R. Mantello on Friday issued a proposed 2026 budget for the City of Troy.

The $122 million dollar budget, says the mayor, "preserves Troy’s strong credit standing and remains well below the state tax cap with a 2.29% tax rate expansion ...  an average monthly increase of $4.64 for a home assessed at $150,000."

Among highlights of the proposal that still needs to go through the review and approval processes:

• A $25 reduction in the annual per-unit garbage fee, from $254 to $229 in 2026. Mantello calls it "the first step in a phased effort to roll back what was once a 'temporary' tax on residents."

• One free annual at-home bulk trash pickup service and the continuation of the quarterly free bulk drop-off events at the Alamo.

• Investments in the City's police and fire departments -- expanding walking beats, upgrading facilities, and enhancing training and technology.

• A new $16 million firehouse in Lansingburgh, the addition of a 24-hour ambulance service, and raising the total firefighting force by four members to improve emergency response and coverage for all neighborhoods. 

• Upgrades at Prospect Park, Kinloch Park, Frear Park, and Knickerbacker Park. 

• A dedicated Pothole Response Crew for real-time street repairs citywide and the installation of new traffic calming measures. 

• A dedicated Litter Response Team to work on daily neighborhood cleanups. 

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Trash/recycling pickup on schedule next week

Monday (October 13) is Columbus Day, a federal holiday that commemorates Christopher Columbus's arrival in the Americas in 1492. 

It also is recognized in some places as what is termed Indigenous Peoples' Day, a nod to the debate over European colonization of the Western Hemisphere.

Politics aside, let's get practical. What it means to us is that it will not affect our trash and recycling pickups. While City of Troy workers will be limited insofar as picking up trash, by the time that comes to us for our usual Friday morning pickup we're on the usual schedule.

What does that mean? Simply put, your pickup items should go out on Thursday -- after dark, the City advises, so your neighbors don't have to stare at your junk all day -- and it ill be collected on Friday morning.

You're welcome.

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Troy detective to speak at THCA meeting

 

Our Monday guest during 2011 swearing in. / Times Union photo

We're looking forward to seeing our neighbors at 7 p.m. Monday (October 13) at Faith Lutheran Church, 50 Leversee Road, for our annual THCA meeting.

Our special guest will be Sgt. Ryan Davis (seen above) who is handling the Troy Police Department's investigation into a series of bank account hacks -- a number of which affected Terrace residents and the THCA itself.

We also will be reviewing and voting on the 2026 operating budget as well as electing a slate of officers for 2026-27. The list of candidates as recruited by the Nominating Committee is available by clicking here.

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City Hall relocation takes another step

Proctors Theatre's projected new facade. / City of Troy illustration

Troy Mayor Carmella R. Mantello today announced the passage of the Land Development Agreement (LDA) for the future permanent home of City Hall at Proctors Theatre.

On October 2, City Council voted in favor of approving the LDA, paving the way for the long-awaited return of a permanent City Hall in the heart of downtown Troy. 

In an announcement, the Mantello administration said, "Currently, taxpayers are paying $760,000 annually in rent for City Hall’s temporary space at 433 River Street (the Hedley Building). A 3% annual escalator increases that cost each year. By utilizing the Troy Local Development Corporation (TLDC) as part of the relocation plan, the city anticipates saving approximately $100,000 annually beginning on day one of operations at the new City Hall location."

The LDA approval allows the City to move forward with design, financing, and construction planning in partnership with the TLDC and Proctors Collaborative. Council is expected to vote on the final lease agreement in November, marking the third and final action taken by the Council to advance the relocation of City Hall to Proctors Theatre. 

More information about the move to Proctors Theatre can be found online.

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Non-pesticide lawn fertilization coming up

Vinmar Solutions, which provides fertilizing and pesticide treatments for Terrace lawns, will have workers on the grounds on Wednesday, October 15.

Please be alert if you're doing any gardening or dogwalking that day.

Here is the official notification.

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Troy, labor union reach agreement

"Members of Troy’s largest government labor union are getting a long-awaited raise."

That's the lead sentence in a Times Union report on a new contractual agreement between the City and the union tha will be supported by your taxpayer dollars. 

As explained in the next sentence, "The new contract ratified for the Civil Service Employees Association’s Troy unit (CSEA) includes a 4% increase in effective and retroactive pay, effective within 60 days of the contract’s ratification, as well as incremental boosts in garment allowances and longevity pay."

The full story is available here.

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Troy road milling schedule for next week

If you're going to be out and about in Troy next week, be alert to the City's roadwork schedule that may temporarily affect traffic flow.

The official City of Troy road milling schedule, preparatory to resurfacing work:

Monday, October 6, and Tuesday morning, October 7

• Location: Congress Street between 8th Street and Pawling Avenue
• Traffic Alert: Eastbound traffic will be closed. Westbound traffic will remain open.
  • Truck Detour: North at 8th Street to Hoosick Street (east) to Brick Church Road (Route 278, south) to Route 2.
  • Passenger Vehicle Detour: North at 8th St Hoosick St (east) to South Lake Avenue (south) to Brunswick Road.
  • Local Advisory: To reach Troy’s Eastside, motorists also may use 5th Avenue to Hill Street to Spring Avenue as an alternate route.

 

Tuesday Afternoon, October 7,  and Wednesday, October 8

• Location: Brunswick Road between Pawling Avenue to South Lake Avenue
• Traffic Alert: Westbound traffic will be closed. Eastbound traffic will remain open.
  • Truck Detour: Brick Church Road (Route 278, north) to Hoosick Street (west) to 8th Street (south) to Congress Street.
  • Passenger Vehicle Detour: South Lake Avenue (north) to Hoosick Street (west) to 8th Street (south) to Congress Street.

 

Thursday, October 9

• Location: Brunswick Avenue (on the hill) between Congress Street to Tibbits Avenue
• Traffic Alert: Lane closures expected. Use caution when traveling through the work zone.

 

Friday, October 10

• Location: Congress Street between 8th Street to Pawling Avenue (drainage structure adjustments)
• Traffic Alert: Eastbound traffic will be closed. Westbound traffic will remain open.
  • Truck Detour: North at 8th Street to Hoosick Street (east) to Brick Church Road (Route 278, south) to Route 2.
  • Passenger Vehicle Detour: North at 8th Street to Hoosick Street (east) to South Lake Avenue (south) to Brunswick Road.
  • Local Advisory: To reach Troy’s Eastside, motorists also may use 5th Avenue to Hill Street to Spring Avenue as an alternate route.

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