Homebuyer Assistance Available Soon

Good news! Rensselaer County was awarded $400,000 from the NYS Community Development Block Grant Program for Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR). These funds are to provide downpayment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers in Rensselaer County (excluding the City of Troy). These funds will not be available until the spring but now is the time to attend a Homebuyer Orientation. For more information call 690-0020.

The TRIP/RCHR Family is Growing!

TRIP and RCHR would like to welcome our newest addition! On Wednesday, November 30, 2011, Mila Grace was born to Danielle Wattsman (from our Homeownership Center) and her husband! 

Welcome Mila, we are all excited to meet you!

Goodbye and Thank You to Tim Kim

Over the past semester, RPI student, Timothy Kim interned at TRIP, and we would like to thank him for all of his hard work! Tim is a 5th year architecture student with a personal interest in sustainability. He helped with research for TRIP’s “Green” initiative as well as doing architectural drawings for current projects. In addition, Tim got to spend some time visiting North Troy expanding his knowledge while contributing his skills to improve the community.

About his experience Tim says… “As an intern with TRIP, I learned a lot about community development. Working at TRIP was different from reading development policies in class. From planning many community events with Hilary and Jeanette, I learned how to be part of the community. I fully understood how to be civic[ly] engaged and an effective citizen.”

Tim Kim, hard at work at TRIP

Community Leadership Institute, Cleaner and Greener Campaign

TRIP recently brought a group of North Central community leaders to a national Community Leaders Institute in Kansas City, MO.  The four-day NeighborWorks America–sponsored conference attracted more than a thousand residents who are committed to improving their neighborhoods, Troy’s team is now putting that new knowledge to work in North Central!  Partnering with School 2, they recently kicked-off a Cleaner and Greener Community Campaign.  The campaign will focus on beautifying the neighborhood through arts projects and anti-litter efforts including a mural along the front of School 2, raised flower beds, and painted trashcans.

From left:  Lynn DuBray, Davia Collington (Rensselaer County), Alysan Slighter, James Mayben, Hilary Lamishaw (TRIP), Priscilla McCauley, & Kim Mazor at the CLI Conference



Student art made from recycled materials at School 2 kick-off event, Dec 6.



2012 Rehab: 69 Middleburgh

Just as TRIP revitalized 2232 5th Avenue in 2011, we are doing it again in 2012, this time at 69 Middleburgh!

We know that the transformation of one building reaches much further than the space between walls. Such rehabilitations provide comfortable homes for families, but also lift morale, improve surrounding communities, and make for a better image of Troy.

Look for more information to come about 69 Middleburgh and for our ribbon-cutting in 2012!

Thank you to our 2011 Donors!

Season's Greetings    

As 2011 comes to a close TRIP would like to say "THANK YOU" to all of our generous supporters this year! With your help TRIP is able to rehabilitate blighted buildings, create and educate new homeowners, prevent foreclosures, make available high quality affordable apartments to families, provide home repairs to seniors, assist landlords, and support neighborhood groups.

TRIP is hugely proud of our local and regional successes, and we would not be able to do the work we do without our supporters. Your dedication to improving Troy and Rensselaer County results in healthier, happier communities, and is greatly appreciated.

If you have not yet joined our list of supporters, there is still time! Click here to become a helping hand in the future of Troy.

Thank you again to all of our 2011 donors! For a full list of those who have supported TRIP this year see below…

TRIP 2011 donors (through December 15):

Wallace and Jane Altes, Eric and Caroline Lee Anderson, Anonymous, Barbara Arakelian, architecture+, AJ Arpey, Steven Axelrod, Joseph and Barbara Baggott, Bank of America, Duncan Barnett, Lisa Barone, BBL Construction, C.T. Barnes, Judith A. Barnes, Susan Benjamin, Thomas Blandy, James Bouldin, Lee Boyle, Lynn Bradley, Chris Burke, Christopher Burton, Assemblyman Ronald Canestrari, Capital Bank, Karen Carlson, Choice Heating and Cooling, City Station, John Clancy, Alma and Joseph Clement, Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Community Works of New York, Bob and Robin Cuddy, Michael and Rebecca Danforth, Garrett and Shellie Degraff, DeFazio Imports, Hal Dethorne, Robert Doherty, Doug Dylla, Emma Willard School, Michael Esposito, Amy Facca and Frederick Cawley, Priscilla Fairbank and Owen Goldfarb, John Fetscher, First Niagara Bank, First United Presbyterian Church, Sid Fleisher, Joseph Fleming, Delkis Flores, Charles Freihofer, Jane Freihofer, Bob Gamble, Marie Gavazzi, Lynn Gelzheiser, Alan Goldberg, Sandy Gull, Eve and Kevin Halloran, Garrett Hamlin and Laura Ferris, Jonathan Harvey, David and Katie Haviland, Mary Hendricks, Steven Heyman, Barbara and Gary Higbee, Paul Hoagland, Alane and Paul Hohenberg, HSBC, H2H Associates, Honorable Kathy Jimino, E. Stewart Jones, Key Foundation, Lynn Kopka, Debra Kossar, Gwen Krause, Hilary Lamishaw, Larralda Limited Partnership, Bernice Ledeboer, Elizabeth and Dean Leith, Lomonaco Architects, Robert and Janet MacLasco, John Madden Jr., Patrick Madden, Joseph Mangione, Carmella Mantello, Marvin & Co, Norman Massry, Kim Mazor, Honorable Roy McDonald, Thomas McGuire, Honorable Steve McLauglin, John McLoughlin, Robert Mitchell, R. Mihran and Ovsanna Mooradian, M&T Bank, Stephen and Mary Muller, John and Kelly Murray, NBT Bank, Christine Nealon, Kevin and Pat O’Bryan, Katrina and David Pacheco, Theresa Page, Mark P. Pattison and Laura Amos, Nina Pattison, Laura Petrovic, Ruth and Bob Pierpont, Pioneer Bank, Francis Pitts, Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, Rensselaer County IDA, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Dorothy Reynolds, Lou Rosamilia, Ken and Dorcas Rose, Michael Rynasko and Susan Troll, Ken Salzmann, SEFCU, Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball Shaw, Patricia Shevy, Springwood Studio, Richard Sleeper and Jeannie Stiegler, State Farm, Dave Strack, David Swawite, TAP, Honorable Paul Tonko, Troy Living LLC, Troy Bike Rescue, Trustco Bank, Turner Construction Company, United Tenants of Albany, United Way of the Greater Capital Region, Betsy Voss, Patty Williams, Wojeski and Co, Garland and Deborah Yates, and CKYoung.

Popular Troy Landlord Training Program is Back!

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011, 5:30 - 9:30pm

@The Homeownership Center

Maximize your return. Minimize your aggravation.

Did you know that TRIP has trained over 1000 landlords in its popular Landlord Training Program? This informative class is designed for landlords of any size property, including owner occupied, both newbies and old-timers. The training  sessions are held two times each year. Participants learn best rental management practices in this four-hour session.  Hear from TRIP's Rental Management Director, one of Troy's community police officers, a code enforcement inspector, Rensselaer Polytecnic Institute, and United Tenants. Seating Limited. $15 materials fee includes a light dinner served.

Please register in advance.

 Learn about:

* EFFECTIVE TENANT SCREENING

* LEAD RULES & RESOURCES

* CODE ENFORCEMENT

* EVICTION PROCESS

* NUISANCE ABATEMENT  

*SMOKE FREE HOUSING and more... 

  To Register please call The Homeownership Center at 690-0020
or To register online, click here.

Goodbye and Thank You

Jeanette Nicholson

TRIP bids adieu - and thanks -- to Americorps*VISTA Volunteer Jeanette Nicholson.  We can hardly believe that Jeanette's one year position here ends this month; the year has definitely flown by!   Serving as TRIP's Outreach Worker, she has been so helpful in supporting various neighborhood groups, TNAC (Troy Neighborhoods Action Council), and the Vacant Properties Workgroup.  She worked hard behind the scenes to ensure the success of community events like North Central's National Night Out and Earth Day cleanups, Uptown's Harvest Festival, TRIP's Open House at 2232 5th Avenue and more. She was a frequent face in the neighborhoods as part of TRIP's commitment to community-building.

Hilary Lamishaw, TRIP's Director of Community Affairs, claims, "Jeanette has brought such value to TRIP with her passion for Troy's neighborhoods.  Yet what I'll miss most is her smile, enthusiasm and gentle nature.  She was really a pleasure to work with. We're lucky that Jeanette is a long-time homeowner in Troy. We know we'll be seeing her out and about in Troy!"

From all of us at TRIP:  "Thanks so much, Jeanette!  It's been great having you as part of our team."    

Two New Faces at TRIP

Joining the TRIP team this month are two new AmeriCorp VISTA Volunteers. Claire Pitts and Mary Rynasko will be spending the next year as an Outreach Support Worker and a Program Support Worker respectively.

But what is a VISTA Volunteer? AmeriCorps "Volunteers in Service to America" has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 45 years. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, volunteers create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

Mary

Mary Rynasko is a 2011 graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. At Skidmore, she studied studio art and sociology focusing particularly on her interests in textiles, drawing, and gender studies. Mary says, “I learned of the position at TRIP through a family friend and started the ball rolling from there. I’ve spent the last four years taking a lot of art classes but always with an eye on how my work speaks to larger social issues. Through my study of sociology, I have become acutely aware of my own privileges and hope that my past and future decisions will position me to use those privileges as a tool for advancing equality; those who can do—should.” If you are curious to see how Mary spent her time and what sort of art she made at Skidmore, feel free to visit marynasko.com!!

Claire

Claire Pitts is a recent graduate of Alfred University with an Interdisciplinary Art major and a Dance minor. Though she loved living in a small town for the last four years, she missed her home in Troy and found herself excited to return at the end of her senior year. Claire states, “There is a creative and innovative energy in Troy that refuses to fade. I became a VISTA to encourage that energy to grow! I grew up guided by parents who were always involved in local non-profits, and it rubbed off on me in a big way. This year, I am looking forward to acquiring a skill set that will be helpful to not-for-profits. Already, I am excited about seeing some of TRIP’s current plans come to fruition. Troy is a beautiful place and I’d love to help its residents feel good about living here!” Claire makes sound and performance art and specializes in site-specific, modern dance. She has no website, but can provide links to some pretty silly dances she’s taken part in.

Giving Thanks to Our Community Supporters

Joe Fama and Andrew Lynn

The TRIP/RCHR Annual Homecoming Dinner on October 24th was another wonderful event. The Troy Treasure Award  went to Andrew Lynn of The Troy Bike Rescue. Andrew writes, "We had a great time at the dinner.  We were truly honored to recognized by TRIP and to share the spotlight with TAP, two organizations that are so highly regarded in the Troy Community.  We have a great amount of respect for Joe Fama and have known about his work and role in revitalizing Troy for some time.  It feels pretty amazing to be recognized as a Troy Treasure also because we are a small all-volunteer non-profit, but we have big ideas and this means that Troy is taking us seriously. Thank you!!! Thanks TRIP!!! and thanks to our amazing community of supporters."

The Citizenship Award went to Joe Fama of Troy Architectural Project, Inc. (TAP) Joe says, "The three nicest things about being named a Community Citizenship Awardee are, first, the honor and amazement I feel at joining the list of previous recipients; people that I have admired and appreciated for their commitment and accomplishments to our community. Second, the evening itself. It was deeply moving to see so many dear friends, many that I had not seen in a very long time and many that have been with me every step of the way. Third, the deep sense of gratitude and kinship I feel with TRIP and its excellent staff and board who have shared this forty year labor of love in Troy, New York; our fabulous, funny and fascinating city." Thank you, Andrew and Joe, for all you do so tirelessly to make our city a great place to live.

A moving video presentation highlighted the evening with heartfelt words from several people expressing their gratefulness for the work of TRIP in their lives. It was an extraordinary and inspirational night. Thank you to all who made it special and to those who support the work of TRIP. If you would like to volunteer your time to help with planning next year's dinner, please call 272-8289. If you or your organization would like to donate to the work of TRIP and RCHR, please visit the donor page at our website.

Pastor Willie, Thanksgiving 2011: We Need Your Help!

Missing Link Street Ministry, led by Pastor Willie Bacote, recipient of the 2010 Troy Treasure award at the TRIP/RCHR Homecoming Dinner, will again be sponsoring a Thanksgiving Day Community Dinner to help out families and individuals around Troy.  Last year, over 1100 people were fed due to the generous support of people and businesses in our city.

Rev. Willie writes, "This year we are having great difficulty with our fund-raising efforts and are reaching out to you for help. Please volunteer your services or donate generously to feed the hungry, and to bring joy and love to Troy on Thanksgiving Day." Check out the video above for more info on how you can help.

Rev. Willie Bacote and E. Stewart Jones at last year's TRIP/RCHR Annual Homecoming Dinner

Complete dinners will be available from noon - 3pm on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th at the church or deliveries can be made by calling 421-5222 to make arrangements. Donations are being accepted and volunteers are needed to cook, serve, deliver and clean up.  Please respond by contacting Reverend Willie D. Bacote, Missing Link Street Ministry, 3370 Sixth Avenue, Troy, NY 12182 or by phone at 421-5222 or 279-7096.

Meet the Candidates Night 2011

Informed voters are the source of effective government leaders, and it is each citizen’s responsibility to gather as much available knowledge before casting his or her ballot. In an effort to educate members of the community, TRIP (Troy Rehabilitation & Improvement Program) and TNAC (Troy Neighborhoods Action Council) are sponsoring a Meet the Candidates Night to connect voters with those running for Troy Mayoral Office and City Council positions. Taking place on Tuesday, October 4^th, 2011 at School 12, 475 1^st Street, Troy, candidates will present their platforms and answer questions starting at 6:30pm and running until 9:00pm.

Attendees will hear each candidate’s opinions and solutions to issues facing the City of Troy, and thus be more confident in who to vote for come Election Day, November 8, 2011. Questions about the event should be directed toward the TRIP office at (518) 272-8289.

Annual TRIP and RCHR Homecoming Dinner

This year’s TRIP and RCHR Annual Homecoming Dinner is sure to leave attendees with a glowing sense of community pride as well as full stomachs. Scheduled for Monday, October 24th at 5:30pm, guests will gather in the Franklin Terrace Ballroom, 126 Campbell Avenue, Troy. Joe Fama and Troy Bike Rescue will be greeted as the 2011 honorees. 

Joe Fama is being recognized as the current Community Citizenship Awardee for his efforts over many years in serving the City of Troy with Troy Architechtural Program. (TAP)  

Troy Bike Rescue has earned honors this year based on their ever-growing efforts to improve North Troy. Their workshop at 3260 6^th Ave. is the hub of bustling activity for both children and adults, providing a space to build and repair bicycles as well as friendships.

Those attending should plan to enjoy the event and RSVP by October 14, 2011. Any questions can be directed to the TRIP office, (518) 272-8289.

Two Fundraisers for Hurricane Irene Victims

TEXAS HOLD 'EM FUNDRAISER

All proceeds from the tournaments will be used to help repair the damage to the Military Order of the Purple Heart that occurred during the Hurricane Irene flooding.
Dates: Sat., October 15th, Sat., November 12th, Sat., December 10th
Register: 1pm.  Tournament Begins: 2pm
$65 Buy in: $10,000 in Chips.  After 1st Hour: $20 Add-On, $5,000 in Chips
Includes Soda & Food
Tournament held at: Military Order of the Purple Heart 761 3rd Ave. in Lansingburgh
Top 7 or 8 finishers will be awarded money.
If you have any questions, please call PJ Higgitt 221-3428

AND

Hell and Highwater, or Lessons for When the Sky Falls

Wednesday Oct 26 7-11pm @ Russell Sage 
Hell and High Water is a poetic, surprisingly funny, sharply satiric, and at times brutal play. A fantasia on the theme of security in America, Hell and High Water is based on the playwright's personal experience of surviving Hurricane Katrina.  

"Was it morning in America or were we mourning America? I couldn't tell. It was fall in America. Or maybe the fall of America. I just couldn't tell." - Teacher Alice from Hell and High Water.

Working with Troy Shares, a local time bank which initiated flood clean-up, Troy Area United Ministries (TAUM) will direct all monies raised to benefit people affected by the recent flooding in Troy.

One of the organizers of the fundraiser, Amanda Santiago, whose home was flooded, is really excited about the partnership between Russell Sage and the community. "Its awesome! A lot of people whose homes were damaged or who lost items after the storm are elderly like my next-door neighbor who is in his 70's and lives by himself. My own family lives paycheck to paycheck. This fundraiser will be really helpful and it's great to see community taking care of community, and Russell Sage is part of that."

See this event on Facebook

Saving Our Housing Programs

If you support the homeownership and housing services that TRIP and our sister organization, Rensselaer County Housing Resources (RCHR), provides to your neighbors, your communities -- and perhaps even you -- in Troy and the entire county, you might be shocked to know that the proposed State budget will eliminate and/or severely cut them. Here is why and what you can do.

The proposed State budget slashes funding for the Neighborhood and Rural Preservation Programs in half. These programs provide core funding to TRIP and RCHR to keep our agency, including our HomeOwnership Center, operating day-to-day. Therefore, these funds support many of our services including First-time Homebuyer Education, one-on-one financial counseling, Mini-Repair services and Landlord Training, among others. The small State investment is leveraged many times over, providing a great “bang for the buck.” For example, in 2010, through our HomeOwnership Center we counseled 436 families, produced 78 new homebuyers, provided home improvements and repairs to 220 seniors and 58 very low income families, and trained 64 landlords. This generated more than $10 million in mortgages, $1.8 million in local business, kept small contractors working, and more.

The proposed State budget eliminates funding for the Foreclosure Prevention Services Program. This program has provided resources for foreclosure prevention housing counselors (such as at TRIP’s HomeOwnership Center) and legal assistance providers to help homeowners prevent mortgage foreclosure when possible. Last year, TRIP’s foreclosure counselors helped 84 families in Rensselaer County who were facing foreclosure. This year, we expect to see many more families at risk of foreclosure due primarily to job losses or hours cut. In fact, the Federal Reserve Bank of NY found that in September 2010, in Rensselaer County there were 530 loans in foreclosure and just as many (525) where homeowners were more than 90 days late in their mortgage payment, leading to imminent risk of foreclosure. Experts believe that NYS is not even halfway through the foreclosure crisis, which means that foreclosure prevention services must continue in order to help homeowners navigate the very complicated foreclosure process. In turn, foreclosure assistance will help communities which also suffer when lenders foreclose: home conditions deteriorate, property taxes go unpaid, and surrounding housing values decline. Without additional funding for the Foreclosure Prevention Services Program, TRIP will likely lose our foreclosure counselors (1 FT, 1 PT) when our contract ends in December.

If you care about these services, your neighbors and your communities, we urge you to call your State representatives below and ask that they show their support for these housing programs by contacting their leaders.

- State Senator Roy McDonald at 455-2381

- Assembly-member Ron Canestrari (AD 106, much of Troy, Rensselaer, & Greenbushes) at 455-4474

- Assembly-member Steve McLaughlin (AD 108, various towns in Rens. Co) at 455-5777

- Assembly-member Tony Jordan (AD 112, eastern parts of Rens. Co) at 455-5404

Call as soon as possible as decisions are being made quickly to ensure a State budget agreement by April 1.

Troy non-profit tackling troubled neighborhoods

News 10 also picked up our story. Check out the excellent video clip of the interview with Executive Director Patrick Madden

News 10
Posted: Dec 29, 2010 10:51 PM EST 
 

Video: TRIP helping to rebuild Troy

TROY, N.Y.-It's not obvious, but Fifth Avenue in Troy is once again in the middle of a rehabilitation project.

"The interesting thing is, one building can ruin a block. When this building wasn't managed well, we had other tenants in our adjoining properties and wanted out. They wanted to leave," said Patrick Madden of the Troy Rehabilitation Improvement Program, or TRIP, did exactly what his non-profit organization has been doing since 1968.

TRIP bought the building, completely gutting it, rebuilding the inside from top to bottom.

"It's important for us to not only get this building for this building. But, for this block," said Madden.

TRIP has renovated about 150 properties around the city many of them on Fifth Avenue. All are then rented to lower-income families. This particular one was bought a year ago but, work on the inside just began last week.

Crews are making the inside as green and energy efficient as possible, realizing utility costs can often break the bank.

People living nearby saying the rehab projects are clearly better than the alternative, which are neglected properties and vacant lots.

"I think it's great," said Chris Wise. "If they aren't being used otherwise and they're all run down, I think it's great they're trying to build them back up make it a better place."
The current venture on Fifth Avenue is expected to be completed by April or May.

Troy Rehabilitation Improvement Program continues to create affordable housing

Thanks to the Troy Record for this great article about TRIP's work in our community.

By Cecelia Martinez
The Record

Published: Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Patrick Madden of TRIP and contractor George Tidmarsh of Ballston Spa look over the gutted building at 2232 Fifth Avenue in Troy which TRIP is renovating into affordable apartments. (Mike McMahon / The Record)

TROY — The gutted three-story row house at 2232 Fifth Ave. may not look like much now, but the building —  and its upcoming renovation — represent the efforts of the Troy Rehabilitation Improvement Program (TRIP) to bring problem neighborhoods back into prominence, one house at a time. The not-for-profit organization has purchased the building and begun the process of turning it into an energy-efficient, four-family home for low-income families, with the hope of not only benefiting the future tenants but also anchoring the block for decades to come.

TRIP is a multi-service agency, acting as a stabilizer and landlord to tenants in dozens of rehabilitated buildings throughout the city, as well as a partner for community improvement efforts like this summer’s Paint the Boards program in the North Central neighborhood. Now, for the first time in years, it is taking on a complete overhaul with this building, which was shut down after numerous complaints and code violations.

“Our goal is to create living environments where people want to stay,” said TRIP Executive Director Wm. Patrick Madden. “We want people to live here because they like it here, not because it’s the only thing they can afford. That’s the environment we want to create, not only for the tenants but for the block as well.”

Renovations were already under way Tuesday afternoon, with George Tidmarsh from A.J. Arpy in Ballston Spa doing reinforcement work in the building. Many of the architectural features of the 19th-century building are still in place, including tile work in the entranceway, the stairway railing and an old dumbwaiter near the back stairway. Once completed, the new layout will include three-bedroom units on the top two floors with two smaller units on the first floor.

“We’re really able to reconfigure the floor plan to make it more in keeping with today’s market demands — bigger bedrooms, more bathroom space,” said Madden. “If we were to keep six bedrooms in each of these units the building would just have too many people.” The tenants will be selected from TRIP’s own roster of eligible families, contingent on income requirements based on family size. Madden said that he does not yet have tenants in mind or know what the rent would be, as it is dictated by income. TRIP would own the building long term, for at least 20 years.

With the announcement of the project, TRIP is also reaching out to the community for support through donations, which help to cover costs not met by grants and other revenue sources.

“We’re getting hit on all fronts, just like everybody else,” said Madden, referring to decreased donations and cuts to government-provided funding. “Yet, more and more people are coming in because they’re hurting as well and need help with housing.”

TRIP is already very familiar with this block of Fifth Avenue. Not only is their office within walking distance, but it also owns a string of buildings across the street from the planned rehab. In 1985, it purchased its first building on the block, the former Mr. Robert’s Pub, that had also seen its share of neglect and mismanagement.

“Let’s just say it wasn’t an asset in the community,” said Madden, adding that when they went in to gut the building, they started pulling 22 slugs out of the wall — the remnants from shootings that had apparently taken place at the pub. After the first renovation, they purchased a few more on the block. “We rehabbed all of those and we continue to own and manage those, having maintained them over the years.”

TRIP’s goal isn’t real estate dominance, however. Madden said the organization likes to see a mix of owners and tenants. One building on the block was recently purchased by TRIP and then sold to a family that wanted to oversee renovations themselves.

“We don’t aspire to own a block or a neighborhood, but sometimes there are buildings that have to be done with a lot of investment and we can commit and do that,” he said. TRIP’s presence in the community also helps to grow the tax base – the organization elects to pay property taxes on all of its 65 properties throughout the city, despite being a nonprofit.

The building will also be renovated with environmentally-friendly features like spray insulation, on-demand hot water heaters and Energy Star appliances to keep utility costs low for tenants.

“We’ve been paying attention to energy for a good number of years, and wherever we can raise money to do it, we’re doing it,” said Madden. “We realize that energy is becoming a larger and larger component of the cost of housing for poor people.”

Renovations are expected to be completed in spring of 2011, with tenants moving in shortly after the building is ready. Madden hopes that the project can spur private investment in the neighborhood.

“This should be a very desirable block,” said Madden. “We have the economic development going on down on River Street, with the Hedley Building and the possible creation of more jobs and opportunities. We’re hoping to see that spread out and this building as contributing to the revitalization of this whole neighborhood.”

TRIP’s offices are located at 415 River St. in Troy. For more information or to make a donation, contact 272-8289 or visit www.triponline.org.

Cecelia Martinez can be contacted at 270-1294 or by e-mail at cmartinez@troyrecord.com.