Troy, N.Y. — The Troy Architectural Program (TAP) has earned an Empire Award for working with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on the university’s Neighborhood Renewal Initiatives plan.

The first-time award, issued by the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR), has honored 10 neighborhood and rural preservation companies assisting local communities in promoting and facilitating affordable housing and neighborhood development across New York state.

To mark the award, TAP and Rensselaer will host a presentation at 1:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 11. The one-hour event, to begin at the Heffner Alumni House on People’s Avenue, will include a tour along 15th Street (weather permitting) to highlight TAP’s ongoing work in that neighborhood in conjunction with Rensselaer. Acting DHCR Commissioner Dennis Ryan, TAP Executive Director Joe Fama, and Troy City Mayor Mark Pattison are expected to speak at the event.

“Under the leadership of Gov. George Pataki, dynamic partnerships between the public and private sectors are helping transform communities across our state. TAP represents one such partnership,” says Ryan. “Throughout its history, TAP has been at the forefront of community renewal and affordable housing preservation efforts in the City of Troy, and DHCR is proud to support such an organization.”

TAP’s vision for Troy is embodied in a joint venture with Rensselaer known as the Rensselaer Neighborhood Renewal Initiatives, established last year to enhance the livability of Troy’s neighborhoods, foster economic development, and stabilize property values. As part of the initiative, Rensselaer recently launched the Homebuyer Incentive Program, offering $5,000 to each qualified homebuyer who purchases a home in specific Troy neighborhoods.

“TAP is very honored to accept this award on behalf of this team effort,” says Joe Fama, TAP executive director, a 1970 Rensselaer alumnus who has been working for TAP since the nonprofit’s inception more than 30 years ago. “We’re delighted that TAP, Rensselaer, the neighborhoods, the city, and the state have begun to pull in the same direction to improve this great city that has so much potential.”

“Troy is rich with community based organizations, such as TAP, that are dedicated to improving the quality of life in this city,” says Barbara Nelson, Rensselaer project manager and head of the Neighborhood Renewal Initiatives plan. “Joe Fama, his staff, and his network of community builders are an integral part of the university’s commitment to connect with the local community. We are thrilled to have our partnerships recognized as models for neighborhood revitalization by DHCR.”

The Troy Architectural Program
Students and faculty from Rensselaer’s School of Architecture established TAP in 1969 as a nonprofit corporation to provide professional assistance to disadvantaged citizens and others in need of affordable architectural services. The company provides preliminary design, design development, and preparation of contract documents, among other services. Seven out of nine of the company’s employees are Rensselaer alumni and Troy residents.

TAP is involved with more than a hundred projects a year around the Capital Region. One notable ongoing project is the Joseph L. Bruno Family Resource Center on 5th Street in Troy. The center, expected to be completed and occupied in February, will offer a variety of services, such as daycare, family counseling, and job training. TAP was also instrumental in the construction of the Junior Museum’s new site on 8th Street. The museum is housed in the Winslow Building, which is leased by Rensselaer to the museum for $1 per year.

Contact: Jodi Ackerman
Phone: (518) 276-6531
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