The Same Old Swan Song

By Don Rittner

What a way to start off the New Year – a fire destroys another one of Troy’s famous historic sites. I hold the city administration responsible for the destruction of the former Rensselaer Rolling mill foundry building, owned by the city, and the loss of the hundreds of irreplaceable valve molds and other artifacts that were in the building.

Why? You may remember last year the city was in a snit that the building was being used by a wood cutter that apparently didn’t have a contract with the city, or did with the former administration - or didn’t? The story never was explained adequately, but what is certain is a vacant mill site is a disaster waiting to happen - and it did. Instead of negotiating with the fellow, who by being there offered a form of protection, the city tossed him out in that news breaking sweep last year by the city’s “Action Team.” I suppose one could look at the fire as part of the plan for rejuvenating the waterfront.

I also expect the Mayor to be sharpening his crayon to take another shot at the messenger since he doesn’t appear to understand the message. As long as the city views abandoned buildings – even city owned ones - simply as eyesores, the problem will continue.

There is a very simple solution to this and we have discussed it ad naseum in this column. Put into place a simple law – the mayor likes laws, doesn’t he – that forces any building owner who lets his or her building sit idly for a period of 6 months to put it in wraps, that is they must mothball the building and make it secure. If the landowner refuses, the city can do it and charge it back to the landowner. This procedure has been in effect locally since the 17^th century.

For those buildings already abandoned and grabbed by the city, have a lottery and give them to anyone who is willing to put some money in it over a specified time. How hard can this be?

While we’re at it, the preservation community has been calling for a complete inventory of all historic resources in the city for some time. Several committees where put together a few years ago and recommendations made – and not followed. There has been another call for more action – with no action. Where’s an “Action Team” for the city’s historic resources. Oh, I forgot, the city expanded its historic districts and then disbanded the Historic Sites Advisory Commission; the mayor felt they were getting too big for their britches making people try to maintain the historic landscape of the city.

It’s a good thing there are people like John Hedley, Sandy Horowitz and those Boston artists that have stepped up to the plate. Hedley simply keeps doing the right thing (check out the Market Block), and Horowitz, while starting out a bit bumpy, has transformed the Cannon Building into its former 19^th century jewel complete with upscale café (where are the critics now?). Boston artists John Fanning and Cindy Alexander continue to promote Troy as an artist haven, and the 800 people who showed up for a one-day event they arranged a month of so ago prove they are not wrong in their assumptions. Saratoga developers are now eyeing Troy, and even some others not yet public at this time.

Yeah, I know the argument. The city has been busy keeping the streets and alleys clean. Come on folks, the streets were filthy and covered with soot when Troy was the fourth wealthiest city in the country, and had 70,000 people living and working within its borders, and was the iron and collar capital of the country.

The bottom line is that private investors will make Troy healthy again as long as government doesn’t get in the way. Troy will continue its comeback as new people from around the country (and world) continue to find the city inviting as a home and/or business, and yes, even a place to admire all those old historic buildings. You may have noticed lately that it’s getting harder and harder to find a vacant building downtown. What a nice problem to have.