How do you plan for the future without destroying your past? This is a question being asked when you discuss the new redevelopment plan for South Troy.

The city has a unique opportunity to take an area that was once the heartland of Troy's industrial legacy and be creative? But how? Convert it into a new industrial park? Design a mix use where industry, both heavy and light, residential, retail, and recreation coexist? Or something completely different? The city is searching for the answers.

I attended a public meeting held at the Polish American Club in South Troy's old iron district to hear the city's consultant present findings from a year long study. Like most planning studies there was a great deal of conjecture, optimism, and a healthy degree of skepticism in the audience.

You need a good imagination, or knowledge of Troy's history, to realize that this 150 acre parcel of South Troy, stretched along 1.5 miles of the Hudson, was once the scene of blast furnaces, rolling mills, and foundry shops that gave the night time horizon a red glow rivaling any sunset. The glow is long gone and replaced with an eerie darkness made from mostly vacant land, and peppered by a few lights from a county jail.

However, examples of the historic fabric of this once important iron industry still exists in a few extant foundry buildings and warehouses that are still in use today. No matter what is decided for new construction, these historic structures are a priority to save and reuse. In fact, if you want to wipe the slate clean, start with these buildings and design around them.

The plan as proposed divides the waterfront into three sections. New or existing zoning requirements would confine certain types of development within the zones with heavier industrial uses confined to the southern end near the Menands Bridge. As you develop north, light industrial, retail, and community services would be mixed in. While residential is not promoted in any of suggestions, it's possible with special zoning. A bike path would stretch along the river and connect to the one proposed to run along the entire river. Pocket parks are also projected.

One assumption made is the large industries already sprinkled throughout this area will agree to move. If there are enough incentives offered, why not? And most of those historic buildings mentioned above are already in private hands and currently being used. These would have to be purchased from existing owners, or given some form of incentive for preserving them.

There was discussion about the lack of residential use. The consultants said studies have shown there is no demand and don't warrant new construction. Furthermore, there is a abundance of housing stock. Yes, there is an abundance, but most of it was built before 1940. While we should promote the reuse of this housing stock, you cannot assume everyone wants to. And what happens when all that existing stock is restored, or torn down, which is more likely in this city? Where do you put people who want to move into the city in the future?

It tells me the city is buying into the suburbanization of the city. Only build work units for commuters? We already see that the influx of State workers in this city has down little except fill up a few lunch cash registers, and reduce parking spaces.

Unfortunately, every map or design I see depicts the area looking like Corporate Woods or the RPI High Tech Park. A few buildings and roads with parking lots for all those workers who don't live in the city, and thousands of trees. What is it with all the trees? Go count the trees at Corporate Woods, or any corporate park. Come on, there haven't been trees in this end of South Troy for 200 years. Either you're building an industrial park or creating a forest. You can't have both.

The character of South Troy certainly would change at night. Think about rows of office or industrial buildings with many large and empty parking lots flooded with the glow of Halogen lights and the swirling moths mesmerized by them. Add some late night programmers or factory workers, and raccoons looking for food among the garbage disposal bins. Not very inviting. On the other hand, what is there now?

There must be a way to breath some life into the area and incorporate it into South Troy, not make it a separate "city within a city."

Why not simply take that section of South Troy and lay it out in a rectilinear fashion, like they did in 1787, with streets and alleys and building lots. The city could still dictate what is built on those lots. This would draw that section into South Troy proper and connect it to existing streets and allow South Trojans access to the river.

Speaking of the river. I hate "Bike Paths" even though I've designed them. They have turned into little private driveways for a few smug enthusiasts that try to run you over if you dare walk on them.

Do away with them and replace them with "GreenWalks." I envision "GreenWalks" as a bit wider than existing bike paths and built in two sections. A wider section for families to "walk" or jog, and a smaller narrower section for those bikes. A wall or island of low lying shrubbery would separate the two.

I'm not against zoning. I believe it has merits, but I also have seen what happens when not applied correctly. Zoning is also a political tool. In the late 60's Albany's entire west end (Pine Bush) was zoned and then parceled out as developers, favored by the city's fathers, were granted one variance after another. You have an industrial park next to single family homes. A homeless shelter sits next to a landfill and the thruway. Zoning is only as good as the people controlling it.

The future of South Troy should be determined by sustainable preservation and cautious development. However, the city has done it right by putting together a concept and the vehicle in which everyone can provide input.