Farewell Troy City Hall, finally

The long simmering approach to fixing or replacing the decrepit, ugly and poorly thought-out Troy City Hall may have come to some sort of solution.

As part of his final flinging of millions of your tax dollars to projects he personally favored before stepping down from his lofty State Senate perch at the close of business today, former Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, R-Brunswick, says he has solved the politically contentious topic.

As reported in the Times Union:

"TROY -- The city will receive $6 million in state funds to transform its Hudson River shoreline by replacing the decaying City Hall with a park and retooling the waterfront with recreation and development opportunities.

"State Sen. Joseph L. Bruno unveiled the funding package Thursday, making it his last economic development announcement before he retires today. He also urged the city's feuding Republican administration and Democratic City Council to work together and pledge $2 million in city funds to get the entire $8 million riverfront overhaul completed.

" 'City Hall is going to come down. In its place will be a 200-space underground parking garage. On top, it will be all grass,' said Bruno.

"The $6 million from the state Environmental Protection Fund revives the push to demolish City Hall and relocate city government. The City Council must still decide how it wants to raise the city's $2 million share of the funding package. One option officials have discussed includes borrowing the money."

There are at least two schools of thought about this move:

• Since major players from both major political parties attended the announcement, their bickering over what to do about City Hall will stop and cooperative efforts will begin.

• A total of $8 million will come nowhere close to complete funding of such a project -- demolition of the structure, hauling off the rubble, moving city government operations elsewhere, preparing the site for new uses, fighting the ever-escalating costs of fuel and materials ... and on and on and on.

(A prime example of such rose-colored viewing is the estimate to build the largely unnecessary Rensselaer Rail Station running millions over budget and required hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs within the first couple years of its existence.)

Keep watch and make up your minds which school of thought is worthy of a diploma.

Meanwhile, here is Mayor Harry Tutunjian's message about the project, taken from the city's official Web site:

"July 17, 2008

"With just two days separating us from the inaugural Troy Pig Out, today would be a wonderful day to talk about all the exciting events taking place this weekend. Unfortunately, I’m going to make you click here to do that, and get a run down of what is happening.

"That’s because earlier today the City held a press conference with Senator Joe Bruno to announce significant funding for the redevelopment of the Hudson River waterfront and the City Hall site. The announcement of this funding from the Senator came at a time when he was just hours from retiring from the job he has held for 32 years. I do not believe we will ever be able to thank him appropriately.

"Among the projects that Troy received funding for today are:

• $4.7 million to redevelop the City Hall site to include park space and a 200-car underground parking garage. The roof of this facility will be a park, with grass, fountains, and play areas. Use your imagination. Best of all, it will improve access to the Hudson River.

• $500,000 to construct a Troy Maritime Welcome Center to provide amenities that will include showers, restrooms, laundry facilities, and an information kiosk to encourage boaters to spend time in Troy.

• $750,000 to construct a fifteen-foot wide waterfront esplanade to reinforce the existing sea wall and promote usage of the waterfront. Docks and boating facilities will be extended as part of this project.

• $500,000 to improve the existing band shell in Riverfront Park and build a new amphitheater.

• $1.05 million to improve the Ingalls Avenue boat launch, including repairs to the launch, retaining wall, sidewalks, dock and fishing pier, and the construction of a new boaters facility with restrooms and amenities.

• $500,000 for the American Rock Salt pile to move to a more industrial site in southern Troy.

"The total cost of these projects is $8 million, of which Senator Bruno has earmarked $6 million to accomplish all of the above.

"Last year, we made an announcement that we would attempt to move City Hall to the Verizon Building on Sixth Avenue. As everyone knows, the issue became a political football and the project has stalled. At the time of the announcement, we spoke quite often that our original intent was to move out of this building without any direct effect on the taxpayers.

"Today’s announcement changes much of that original plan. We now have the ability to solve many different issues, and fulfill the wishes of many different people. I was extremely happy that City Council President Clem Campana stood by my side today and pledged the support to the City Council in moving these projects forward. Hard work and creative thinking can now be teamed up with this funding to create a new legacy in downtown Troy that generations of Trojans will be able to enjoy. It is time to roll up our sleeves, work together, and get this done.

"Stay tuned over the next few months, there will be much more to come.

"Have a great weekend, and please stop by the Troy Pig Out on Saturday or Sunday.

"If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or complaints, please do not hesitate to call me (518) 270-4401 or e-mail the Mayor’s Office.

In the interest of precision, please note that the figures Tutunjian supplied add up to $8 million, not the $6 million Bruno diverted to the city, and thus $2 million less than Tutunjian referred to as "among the projects that Troy received funding for ... ." So, the city still has to come up with $2 million.