It's not too late!!

Now that the City of Troy has received re-submissions from the same developers who originally proposed to redevelop the City Hall site at 1 Monument Square, it is not too late to reverse course and relocate City Hall to the former building.

Obviously, the original three proposals were not satisfactory. Can we expect the new submissions to be anything better? In any event, it is clear that the “multi-million dollar proceeds from the sale of the property” forecasted by consultants is just another myth. Otherwise, the administration would have awarded the development rights in the first round.

With the City Council exploring the relocation to the Dauchy building, a 1800’s wooden structure and the demolition of 1 Monument Square not yet beyond the “point of no return” – why not consider the possibility of moving back to Monument Square?

Everyone knows the rehabilitation of a building is easier when it has been stripped to the studs. City Hall has been striped to the studs. It is much easier to replace the roof, replace plumbing, electrical and hvac systems and redesign the spaces in the structure now that the old has been removed. With the removal of the parapet wall and aluminum windows it is also much easier to change the scale and appearance of the building for those who think the building should be torn down because it’s ugly.

Nobody has seen the proposals to redevelop the site. Perhaps they have detailed proposals for redevelopment with clients signed on for the space. Perhaps they will pay the City of Troy millions of dollars for the property. Perhaps they will guarantee there proposals with performance bonds. My guess is they won’t have any of these things.

The City of Troy still has time to evaluate all it’s options. Just because the building has been gutted doesn’t mean we have to continue with the total demolition.

Stop the demolition of City Hall. Open the three proposals. Have a thorough evaluation of each proposal vis-à-vis it’s long term economic impact and viability. Complete evaluations of the Dauchy Building. Then see if it isn’t a better choice to return to 1 Monument Square. We have more information and we have more options now. It’s not too late.