Rensselaer City Newsletter January 2023

Welcome to the first edition of the City’s official Newsletter.

The intention of this newsletter is to provide you with as much information as possible on what is happening in your City. We know not everyone is on Social Media and some prefer to use email. In order for our City Government to be transparent, we need to have the opportunity to communicate in every way possible.

This newsletter is available to anyone who wishes to subscribe by sending an email to info@rensselaerny.gov

Additionally, the newsletter will be published on the city website and social media pages. https://rensselaerny.gov/government-1/mayor

When the new administration took over in 2020, the city was left without a Corporation Counsel, Director of Planning, Comptroller, an operating Budget Committee, and Industrial Development Agency. The Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals were without direction, city audits were four (4) years behind, and the Building and Codes Office was crippled in its ability to enforce violations due to the failure of the City to update its laws, policies and procedures. Transparency in the operation of City Government was totally lacking. Worst of all, in 2020, the Country endured one of the worst pandemics to ever take place in the world, while at the same time, we went through one of the worst periods of civil unrest.

Your new administration went to work bringing in qualified professionals to run the DPW and Water Departments, appointed Department Heads who had the expertise to get the jobs done that had been left unfinished for far too long. Mayor Stammel appointed a new, energetic Planning Director and brought in an experienced Director of Economic Development. Mayor Stammel also appointed a Comptroller and Budget Adviser who worked hard with the Independent Auditor of the City to get three past due yearly Audits filed with the State of New York. The remaining Audits are being worked on and should be filed in the near future.

The city administration was able to consolidate services to keep the size of City government down while at the same time expanding the services available to residents. Residents can now pay their bills by charge card and remote payment may be available in the near future.

Mayor Mike Stammel

Office of the Mayor mike.stammel@rensselaerny.gov

Highlights

Downtown Revitalization

Livingston Ave Bridge

Casey’s Reopens

Downtown Revitalization 2023

As we head forward into 2023, the City is moving full speed to revitalize its downtown and business district as well as developing its residential areas.

UW Marx recently completed construction on a second apartment building at DeLaet’s Landing . The complex is located at 100 New Broadway. Additionally, construction on a smaller apartment building has wrapped up on the 1400

Block of Broadway. The rental leasing process for both buildings is currently underway. Construction is well underway on even

Brownfield Grant Received

The City of Rensselaer received an $85,000 Brownfield Grant for the area from the Port of Rensselaer to DeLaet’s Landing. The Grant is for the study of brownfield property and the effect it may have on adjoining properties and how to mitigate the effects so not to impact future development in a brownfield area. The City of Rensselaer intends to com-

plete a BOA Plan for a 162acre area characterized with 31 potential brownfield sites. The primary community revitalization objectives include identification of barriers to redevelopment, building partnerships, and identification of implementable and sustainable redevelopment actions. Anticipated community benefits include enhanced tax revenue,

more apartments which will be located at 1058 Broadway at the corner of Broadway and Glen Street.

In the coming months, ground will break on another apartment building

which will be located at 1119 First Street. The lot is located on First Street between Glen and Pine Streets.

improved quality of life, enhanced public access to the waterfront, and new employment opportunities.

Livingston Avenue Bridge Project

development that signals the end of the formal environmental review process and clears the way for the State Department of Transportation to advance final design for a new, state-of-the-art Hudson River crossing that will improve rail travel across the Empire Corridor, better serve maritime traffic and provide muchneeded access across the Hudson River and the Empire State

Trail for bicyclists and pedestrians. Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2023.

Mayor Stammel has championed the Livingston Avenue Bridge project since his time as a Rensselaer County Legislator, as a member of the Capital District Transportation Committee - CDTC, and especially as our Mayor. This great news is a culmination of years of hard work and advocacy.

“This great news is a culmination of years of hard work and advocacy.”

Photo Compilation by Dave Ellis

RENSSELAER CITY

Restore NY Grant Awards

The planned $27-million redevelopment of the former Hilton Center (a historic shoddy mill structure known long ago as Barnett Mills) at 20 Forbes Avenue will be assisted by a $1.8-million 2022 Restore NY award.

That project is also being considered for assistance from the City of Rensselaer IDA (CRIDA). Preliminary CRIDA resolution approvals have been granted. Environmental soundness of the project is currently being examined by the City Planning Commission. Final approval resolutions calling for CRIDA assistance will be considered when the City Planning Commission completes its work and issues enabling news to the CRIDA members.

The BBL-Barnett LLC project is one of two pending City of Rensselaer projects induced by the availa-

bility of a new mixed-use real property, sales and mortgage recording tax exemption tool that has been in use in competing Capital District communities.

If both pending mixed-use projects, with aggregate costs estimated at $36-million, are completed, some 120 new market-rate apartments will be introduced to Rensselaer. Commercial components will be attached, including some new retail enterprises.

Another 32-unit, $4-million, market -rate apartment building located at 2 Green Street near Routes 9 and 20. was also recently approved for renovation by the city and by the CRIDA.

Casey’s Restaurant Under New Ownership

For years, Casey's has been a place for many for a meal or a drink after a game, for family dinners, special events or a place to catch up with friends. Longtime owner Jimmy Casey will be retiring and passing the reins to Dan Fumarola, Uday Patel and Lisa Tennant. We joined County Executive Steve McLaughlin in congratulating Jimmy for his years of service to our community

and to wish Dan, Uday and Lisa all the best in continuing on this Rensselaer staple.

Menus and reservation information may be found on Casey’s website at 518caseys.com or on their Facebook page.

The restaurant is open Monday Friday for lunch from 11-2:30. Dinner is served Monday Thursday from 4-9, Friday and Saturday from 4-10 and Sunday from 4-8.

Convenience Store / Gas Station Coming Soon

The old Lukoil gas station and Old Tyme Auto Service building at 1208 Washington Avenue in Eastland Park is under new ownership. In the coming months, the property will be undergoing renovations to become a Sunoco gas station and convenience store in Rensselaer’s North end. Plans for construction are being finalized with an

anticipated opening date this coming summer. This is one of several projects the new owner is working on in the City of Rensselaer.

D I R E C T O R Y

ASSESSOR

518-462-5421 sharon.martin@rensselaerny.gov

BUILDING & ZONING ADMIN. 518-465-1693

CITY COURT CLERK 518-453-4680

SHARON MARTIN

BARBARA AGANS

CITY CLERK 518-462-4266 nancy.hardt@rensselaerny.gov NANCY HARDT

DIR. OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 518-462-4839 jack.bonesteel@rensselaerny.gov JACK BONESTEEL

ENGINEER 518-694-3968 bill.smart@rensselaerny.gov BILL SMART

FIRE HOUSE, NORTH 518-463-2883

FIRE HOUSE, BROADWAY

518-465-3243 bill.brooking@rensselaerny.gov BILL BROOKING JR.

FIRE CHIEF

HISTORIAN 518-694-3126 victor.batorsky@rensselaerny.gov VICTOR BATORSKY

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

518-462-0419 irene.sorriento@rensselaerny.gov IRENE SORRIENTO

LIBRARIAN 518-462-1193 jane.chirgwin@rensselaerny.gov JANE CHIRGWIN

MAYOR 518-462-9511 mike.stammel@rensselaerny.gov MIKE STAMMEL

PLANNING DIRECTOR 518-462-4839 ketura.vics@rensselaerny.gov KETURA VICS

POLICE DISPATCHER 518-462-7453

POLICE CHIEF 518-462-7453 warren.famiglietti@rensselaerpolice.org WARREN FAMIGLIETTI

PROCESS SERVER 518-720-7106 steve.smith@rensselaerny.gov STEVE SMITH

PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONER

518-462-9617 jim.brady@rensselaerny.gov JIM BRADY

CITY GARAGE / DPW 518-462-5512 gene.hilstro@rensselaerny.gov GENE HILSTRO

PURCHASING AGENT 518-462-2251 rich.berhaupt@rensselaerny.gov RICH BERHAUPT

TREASURER 518-462-6424 michael.mizener@rensselaerny.gov MIKE MIZENER

WATER / SEWER DEPUTY COMMISS.

518-462-6466 fran.welsh@rensselaerny.gov FRAN WELSH

YOUTH DIRECTOR 518-462-5488 youth@rensselaerny.gov

JIM KONSTANTAKIS

Sign Up for Important Notifications

Do you want to be notified when there are emergency parking restrictions due to inclement weather, road closures, change in trash pick up schedules, boil water advisories as well as other important events? The City of Rensselaer has partnered with Ever Bridge to provide emergency alerts to residents.

You can easily sign up to receive timely alerts from the Rensselaer Police Department on the city website. Simply create a username and password and register your email address or phone number to sign up for alerts.

• Snow emergencies

• Road closures

• Boil water advisories

• Trash schedule change

Overdue Water / Sewer Bills? Enhanced STAR Exemption

Keep your water on with LIHWAP the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program. This program helps low income households pay the cost of overdue water and sewer bills. Apply by visiting waterassistance.otda.ny.gov.

To view eligibility and income limits go online to otda.ny.gov/ihwap. You may obtain an application by phone at 1-833-369-0208 or you can request one on online at otda.ny.gov/lihwap

If your water and/or sewer is shut-off, about to be shut-off, or you have a 72 hour disconnect notice and you need help immediately, you may be eligible for Temporary Assistance. You may apply online at myBenefits.ny.gov or call 1-800-342-3009 for assistance

Payments for Parking Tickets

Renewal applications have been mailed for the Senior Aged, Persons with Disabilities and Limited Income and the Non-profit Exemptions.

Any property owner turning 65 years of age during 2023 with a household income of less than $93,200 should visit the City website or stop in to obtain forms to file for the Enhanced STAR Exemption.

All exemptions and renewals are to be returned to the Assessor’s Office by March 1st, 2023.

Payments for parking tickets may be made in person to the Police Department from 9AM-3PM Monday-Friday except holidays or online, using Parking Ticket Assist at http://www.parkingticketassist.com/rensselaer/.

Planning Department Projects

Ketura Vics and the City Planning Department have been hard at work re-envisioning Rensselaer. The City’s Open Space Planning Committee has held several meetings to educate and engage residents on the current and future state of Rensselaer’s natural spaces and public parks to identify local priorities that will help enhance community resilience and climate

preparedness in the city. More information about the project is available at rensselaerplanning.com/ openspaceplan.

In addition to the Open Space project, the Planning Department has also been working with the Capital District Transportation Committee on a waterfront connectivity study.

The intent of the study is to explore access options for all modes of travel to the northern end of the city as well as a bicycle / pedestrian connection to the Hollow trail. More details can be found at rensselaerriverfrontconnections.com

Various design concepts for restructuring Forbes Avenue to the boat launch site, Broadway at Forbes Avenue intersection as well as the 5 way intersection at Washington Ave in front of Lucky Times Grocery and Deli.

Spotlight into events at Rensselaer Senior Center

Rensselaer Seniors Spotlight

The Rensselaer Senior Center at 50 Herrick Street is directly across from the Amtrak station in the McManus Center. The Rensselaer Senior Center is open to all residents of Rensselaer who are retirement age and serves lunch each weekday from 12-1 PM with various events taking place during the week beginning at 10 AM. Events include line dancing, musical entertainment and art. Numerous trips take place throughout the year including boat rides on Lake

George. Gloria Fonda serves as Director of the Rensselaer Senior Center through the Rensselaer County Department of Aging. To learn more about the Center and find out how you can become a member, you may call 518-4632166. To learn more about the Rensselaer County Department of Aging as well as services available to seniors within the county, you may visit rensco.com/159/Aging

Silver Sneakers 1-2

Line dancing 10:15-11:30 Silver Sneakers 1-2

2 Pinnacle Game 12:30-1:30

Crafts 12:30-1:30

3

Art 10:00-12:00 Pinnacle Game 12:30-1:30 Silver Sneakers 1-2

4

Silver Sneakers 1-2

7 Line dancing 10:1511:30

14 Line dancing 10:1511:30

8 Line dancing 10:1511:30

Silver Sneakers 1-2

15 Line dancing 10:1511:30

Silver Sneakers 1-2

9 10 Art 10:00-12:00 Silver Sneakers 1-2

16 Crafts 12:30-1:30

17 Art 10:00-12:00 Silver Sneakers 1-2

11

Silver Sneakers 1-2

21 Line dancing 10:1511:30

22 Line dancing 10:1511:30

Silver Sneakers 1-2

23 24

10:00-12:00

Sneakers 1-2

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City of Rensselaer Events and Meetings

FEBRUARY 2023

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Common Council Workshop @ City Hall 6:30 pm

1 Common Council Meeting 6:30 PM

2 Zoning Board of Appeals Applications DUE

3 Planning Commission Application Revisions DUE

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Council Workshop Meeting 6:30 PM

Planning Commission Regular Meeting @ City Hall 6:30 pm

14 Planning Commission Application Due

15 Common Council Meeting 6:30 PM

16 17 18 19 20

President’s Day City Hall Closed

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28

Zoning Board of Appeals Meeting @ City Hall 6:00 pm