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The huge 1930s-era structure had a certain offbeat charm, what with the gigantic winking eye and leering smile someone had painted on it. But, it also was a daily reminder of poisoned industrial land in South Troy and of the tortoise-paced waterfront redevelopment we kept being told would actually produce something tangible.
Now, 2½ years after the tank was demolished and King Fuels filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, we seem to be a few steps closer to improvement.
The city recently announced the purchase of 35 acres in South Troy to be cleaned up and made ready for redevelopment. More than 15 acres were owned by King, which will get $2 million in the deal.
Of course, this is Troy and nothing comes easy. Mayor Harry Tutunjian publicly said it will take about two years before the environmental cleanup of the land will be finished and redevelopment can get under way. Privately, he knows that's just a guess. The real pace will be out of the city's direct control.
There are a lot of cooks stirring the pot to make this stew. Twenty of the 35 acres were purchased for $500,000 from Portec Rail Products, but National Grid -- formerly Niagara Mohawk -- is under a state Department of Environmental Conservation order to handle cleanup of the land.
The power company estimates the cleanup will run at least $10 million. However, National Grid hasn't started the work because King Fuels was suing the city and wouldn't let its workers on the property. King had alleged the city reneged on a deal to swap land and foreclosed on other King property without crediting the company for taxes paid. The $2 million payment to King not only pried loose the land, it made the lawsuit go away.
(For those who are counting, the money to buy the properties came from the federal Brownfield Economic Development Initiative. It's all our taxpayer money, of course, but not directly from a city pocket.)
But, while we're waiting for the macro improvements, there are small, very tangible improvements around town that show the micro side of a municipality slowly but steadily being resuscitated.
For example, noted chef Larry Schepici is about to open an upscale restaurant in the Hendrik Hudson building at Monument Square.
The China Buffet will move into the long-vacant eyesore at Congress and Third streets that had been a KFC store as well as a hangout for a lot of unsavory elements before being shuttered five years ago.
Elizabeth Young and Steve Scarlata have opened Living Room, the city's latest addition to the antiques district on River Street.
Alane Hohenberg and a group of volunteers is working to create a food co-op, a la Albany's Honest Weight Co-Op, called the Troy Community Food Co-op. If plans go through, it will open next fall at the former Pioneer Market on Congress Street.
Positive signs large and small. We'll gladly take 'em all.
