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North Central Troy may be known for vocal neighbors
and social ills, but there are other stories, too, that
can be told about this diverse neighborhood. North Central
is generally located between River and Oakwood Ave./Tenth
Streets and Hoosick and 101st Streets.
This area was once known as the village of Middleburgh
and was the farm of Jacob Vanderheyden. As you may know
through the writings of Don Rittner, the Native Americans
first settled this land in the 17th century. This long
and rich history may help us in North Central to move
forward on some new and interesting projects to restore
and enhance our neighborhood.
Tina Urzan, leader of the Friends of Sixth Avenue, is
starting a project to improve Sixth Avenue. Another
Troy resident is drafting an application to the national
historic register, and more new neighbors are discovering
that North Central can be a viable neighborhood. Urzan
said, "We stand a fighting chance to improve the
whole district." She is working with folks from
Weed and Seed, community groups like CEO and TRIP, and
other concerned neighbors to help revitalize the area.
The group will work in partnership with city and local
groups to "...remove deteriorated homes and burned-out
buildings. Nothing blights an area more than housing
eyesores," Urzan remarked. The group's priority
list for major improvements in North Central is extensive.
Urzan is a life-long resident and the owner of the Olde
Judge Mansion Bed and Breakfast, which has been operating
successfully in North Central for the past four years.
But good businesses and active neighborhood groups (North
Central has several!) are not the only key to this area's
rehabilitation; active and involved neighbors are also
intrinsic to its success.
Elisabeth Bakker-Johnson, for example, is a Troy neighbor
who has helped neighborhood activists to reclaim their
neighborhood's pride. "The Farmer's Bank, the first
bank in either Troy or Lansingburgh to serve both villages,"
said Troy resident and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
student Bakker-Johnson, "was established here in
North Central in 1801." This building was later
used by RPI during its earliest years.
Bakker-Johnson was one of several students in Professor
Fred Cawly's studio design class in the department of
architecture at RPI who met with neighbors and presented
them with information that offered a new and, to some,
exciting interpretation of North Central's role in Troy's
historic architecture. Bakker's work centered around
the old community of Middleburgh or Batestown, specifically
2902-2916 Sixth Avenue.
Using deeds, maps, census studies, newspapers, and other
research, she discovered that this area is historically
significant and merited application to the National
Register of Historic Places. Bakker-Johnson has prepared
a draft of the application and will soon submit it to
the National Park Services for review.
According to her research, the collection of eight late-Victorian
rowhouses at 2902-2916 Sixth Avenue is architecturally
significant because they are fine representations of
the Renaissance Revival style of architecture. Bakker-Johnson's
words provide us with an interesting story about the
origins of this style:
"A fascination for the architecture of Renaissance
Europe and the World's Colombian Exposition at Chicago
in 1893 brought the Renaissance Revival style to national
prominence. It became popular as a style that reflected
the emerging 1890s affluence of its society. The quiet
yet extremely refined design was thought to be a welcome
change to the dull, ordinary and uncontrolled architecture
of the past. This new architectural philosophy ranged
from 'academically correct' examples to the 'widely
eclectic,' all of which recalled the architectural fantasies
of the 1880s and took inspiration from the Roman, Beaux
Arts, Italian Renaissance, French Renaissance, French
classic, and German Renaissance."
Bakker-Johnson went on to say that the Sixth Avenue
Historic District, reflects the qualities of this significant
style. Some neighbors hope that information like this
will aid in getting more people to look at North Central
as a viable neighborhood in which to purchase a home.
Urzan sited the city's architecture, access to major
highways and "walk-ability" as major draws
to North Central. "North Central has many beautiful
homes," she said.
Research from the students supports Urzan's claim: Fifty-three
percent of the buildings surveyed on Sixth and Seventh
Avenues between 101st and Hoosick Streets are Queen
Anne (23%) and Italianate (30%). The buildings on these
streets exhibit a unique combination of architectural
elements from the late popular Victorian styles: cornice
features, projecting bays, window lintels and door surrounds,
and paired front doors.
Carmen Garcia, a three-year resident of Sixth Avenue,
also agreed. Garcia feels that North Central is "...peaceful
compared to where I came from in the Bronx." She
said that the people are friendlier, and she likes the
ways that people help one another. "When I go to
work, people check my house for me. I really like that
how everybody looks out for each other."
There is an interesting history of neighborhood activism
in North Central Troy. One group, the North Central
Neighborhood Association, was active for over 25 years.
Longtime secretary Pauline Ienco has lived on Sixth
Avenue for many years, having run a popular deli called
"Pete's," which now houses North Central's
Weed and Seed Resource Center.
On a recent visit, the center was filled with neighbors
holding meetings and working together on issues important
to their specific blocks. While the North Central Neighborhood
Association no longer meets, other groups have formed
to ensure neighborhood involvement on a block-by-block
basis.
I bought and renovated my home on Sixth Avenue in North
Central for a simple reason: I fell in love with it.
I was taken away by the high, tin ceilings, oak staircase
and preserved, late Victorian façade. It took
about two years from the time that I began working with
TRIP until I moved in about 13 years ago. In that time,
I really began to feel that I was more like a guardian
to this 150-plus-year-old piece of artwork, than its
owner.
I put together a spoken word installation to see if
others felt the way that I did about Troy's architecture
in general and North Central's in particular, and the
response (with a few exceptions) has been positive.
In a city this old and rich with history, I know there
are more stories to reclaim from history about North
Central. Sure. I would change some things: cleaner streets,
more lights, more green spaces, more homeowners and
... Then, I hop on my bike and ride to the river to
the Farmer's Market, where I see past the grit of urban
life and reflect on the things that make my neighborhood
extraordinary and unique. |
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