'Burgh in line for $1 million+ in rebuilding grants

Did you know the City of Troy is considering investing more than $1 million in down-at-the-heels Lansingburgh?

You would if you've read details of the "Proposed Project Funding 2015 Annual Action Plan." That document -- sometimes referred to as the "One Year Annual Action Plan" -- covers a wide range of potential grants all over the city. You can see it in its entirety by clicking here.

The 'Burgh portion of the proposal is broken into two components, one for $1 million and a the other for $100,000. It is an intriguing and promising idea that, if approved, could go a long way toward cleaning up a major neighborhood that has suffered through a rash of arsons, building abandonments, boarded-up structures, neglected vacant lots, lack of maintenance by both renters and absentee landlords, and general disregard for quality of life by far too many residents who either don't care about where they live or who have grown weary at the continual downslide.

Here, in the words of the document, are the two possibilities (I corrected its misspelling of Lansingburgh):

Lansingburgh Target Area Reinvestment (City of Troy Housing Department, $900,000): The Lansingburgh Target Area will consist of targeted infrastructure improvements, and neighborhood quality of life improvements including, new sidewalks and curbing, street milling and paving, streetscape improvements, lighting, street trees, public safety and neighborhood park improvements.

Program Delivery Expense (City of Troy Housing Department, $100,000): Direct program expenses related to the Lansingburgh infrastructure project including onsite project management oversight, design and engineering, Davis Bacon compliance and related work and coordination with contractors and homeowners.

(On the latter item, don't worry if you don't know who "Davis Bacon" is. Actually, it's not a he. The term should have been written "The Davis-Beacon Act." It refers to a 1931 federal law that requires the local prevailing wage be paid to laborers and mechanics on public works projects. It also applies to contractors and subcontractors who work on federally-funded or federally-assisted contracts in excess of $2,000 for construction, alteration, repairing and/or decorating public buildings or public works.)

Anyway, if you'd like to make comments about this part of the proposal or any and all other parts, the process is simple. The proposal explains that a 30-day public comment period will end on Friday, May 8. Until then, "All residents. property owners, and other stakeholders of the City of Troy are encouraged to submit written comments or questions regarding the draft One Year Annual Action Plan to the Department of Housing & Community Development, 433 River Street, Troy, NY 12180, or e-mail to tim.mattice@troyny.gov."

There also is a public hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. this Thursday at City Hall, which this week remains located at 433 River Street on the fifth floor of the Hedley Building.

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