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The North Central section of the city of Troy is generally
agreed to cover from Hoosick Street on the south to
101st Street to the north; River Street is the western
boundary and Oakwood Avenue is the eastern boundary.
This is an area that is very rich in history.
It is a Blue Collar part of the City and very diversified.
It is comprised of one, two- and some three-family homes
along with many small businesses.
We also have two different CDTA bus routes that run
through our area, making it a convenient place to live
and easy to get around.
North Central is comprised of a few different neighborhood
associations. I head up the "Friends of Sixth Avenue,"
which meets the 20th of each month at the Olde Judge
Mansion B&B at 7 p.m. The "United Citizens
of North Central," of which Debbie Michel is president,
meet at the Weed & Seed headquarters at 3076 Sixth
Ave. on the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m.
Also within the North Central neighborhood is the "Friends
of Seventh Avenue" group, headed up by Flora Carr,
and a newly-formed group call the "Ninth Street.
Area Neighborhood Association." All groups welcome
everyone to their meetings.
Each group focuses on a different area of North Central
and their immediate needs. It is a pleasure to work
together and see the improvements as each group has
their individual successes.
The "Friends of Sixth Avenue" represents
Sixth Avenue from Hoosick to 101st Street, the main
corridor into Troy from the north. We call our particular
area "Jacob's Farm," dating back through history
to the original ownership of the land, which was then
parceled off.
"Friends of Sixth Ave." is currently working
on a marketing brochure with Dorcas Rose of the Institute
of Cultural Affairs and a group of students from Rensselaer
Polytechnic Institute. Not only will the brochure detail
some of our fine architecture, dating back to the 1800s,
but it will also highlight some of the more-than-one
hundred businesses located in our neighborhood.
Additionally, we will produce a CD with photos that
we can market to future citizens and business owners
who are interested in our area.
We are conveniently situated very close to several
major highways and interstates, making it easy for travel.
We have frontage on the Hudson River that makes us accessible
to river traffic.
There currently is a working plan for development of
a riverfront park in the Middleburgh and Ingalls Avenue
area. More can be learned on this by attending one of
our monthly meetings. We welcome all input.
This year was the first year of our annual Beautification
contest, co-sponsored by Weed & Seed, and was met
with much enthusiasm.
Joan Burkard and Darlene Seymour placed first and second
respectively for the beautiful flowers gracing their
homes. We look forward to new competition next year!
Located across the street from Darlene's house is Central
Little League and the Frank Welch Memorial Field, which
is headquarters for many of our youth in the spring
and summer. This league is headed up by Maryanne Eagan,
who puts many hours of volunteer time and hard work
into coordinating its activities.
We are a neighborhood of volunteers, and partnerships.
We are home to the Weed & Seed program, which Mary
Beth McGowan heads up. The steering committee consists
of members of the community, professionals from all
areas of the city and members of the Community Police
force, headed up by Capt. John Tedesco. All are committed
to pulling the area back into a flourishing Community.
I will use our future columns to highlight the accomplishments
of our area and the citizens who live in it. Please
feel free to contact me if you have knowledge of any
special awards that have been endowed on our youth,
citizens or businesses, any accomplishments, and/or
services that benefit our community. We would like to
acknowledge and honor our neighbors. I can be contacted
at 274-5698 or by email at tinau@nycap.rr.com.
This neighborhood column was written by Tina Urzan,
a Sixth Avenue resident.
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