It's Time to Take Stock

I hate math; Always have. It tweaks my brain in strange ways. That said I LOVE numbers. Well, more accurately counting things to come up with numbers. That’s why I became an Inventory Specialist when I enlisted in the US Army. Being responsible for ensuring that enough stock was on hand to keep vehicles up and running sounded and was very cool. It’s been years since I had something that important to count. The Troy Neighborhoods Action Council has given me something that important to count again – vacant buildings. Consisting of leaders from active neighborhood associations, concerned residents and corporate stakeholders from throughout our fair city, the members of TNAC have collectively agreed that vacant buildings are an issue for every neighborhood in Troy NY.

The City of Troy Vacant Building Registry requires all owners of vacant buildings to keep the building secure, safe and cared for. There are currently 350+ registered vacant buildings on the registry. Unfortunately, not all such owners are complying. For example, 669 River Street has been vacant at least 10 years and is not on the registry. That property owner is NOT following the rules. I’m willing to bet that there are other vacant buildings in this city for which the same can be said. It’s time to take stock of ALL of the vacant buildings and unattended vacant lots throughout Troy NY.

Un-maintained, unattended, unsafe, unsanitary vacant buildings - regardless of where they stand - affect EVERY citizen of Troy. Everyone deserves a safe place to raise his or her family. By participating in this inventory, you will help to make your little piece of Troy a better and safer place to live. Taking stock of our vacant stock is the first step to finding responsible owner occupant homebuyers. Owner occupants are truly invested in their neighborhoods and generally spend where they live. And it seems to me that when a vacant building becomes an owner occupied building, the property values in the adjoining area would increase while the tax burden would decrease. There may be other benefits as well.

You can help improve the quality of life in your neighborhood and greater Troy NY by noticing and informing us of vacant buildings in your area by sending an email of the address to vacantproperties@live.com. Your information will be cross-referenced with the City Vacant Building Registry to develop a more comprehensive list. Remember, if it’s good for ANY part of Troy, it’s good for ALL of Troy.

May She Rest in Peace

“Mass has ended. Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”  Those words took on new meaning for me today as the final Mass at St. Patrick's came to a close.  No more weddings.  No more baptisms.  No more first communions.  No more funerals.  No more parish.  It shouldn’t be this way. Today, many eyes were crying not just Irish eyes. Today’s Mass was the final funeral to be held at St. Pat’s. It was for the church itself.  The doors of St. Patrick’s RC Church on Sixth Avenue in Uptown Troy NY have been closed and locked for the last time.  May she rest in peace.

To be clear, I am not a practical Catholic. I converted many years ago, becoming an Episcopalian. My father, however, is a practical Catholic. As a member of the Knights of Columbus, he has served on the Honor Guard for three closings already. All were parishes he attended at one point in his life. He could not serve this time. It has become too difficult, too emotional. St. Patrick’s is the parish his parents were raised and married in, where his siblings were baptized and his grandparents buried from. I attended today to represent my family and its historic connection to the parish.

Today we celebrated all that St. Patrick’s was and is and shall be no more. Practical Catholics have already made too many sacrifices. The “Called to be Church” program is taking too much away from inner city parishes all across the Capital District. The bishop claims to be concerned about that yet his actions prove differently. But then again, why should the bishop want to continue parishes that don’t fully participate in his appeals? It’s too bad that I can’t help but think that’s all he’s interested in.