Troy's Downtown Is About to Get a Major Upgrade
Vol. III, No. 327 - A Project Years in the Making Comes Gets Closer to the Finish Line
After years of debate, public meetings, long emails, and a few victories along the way, Troy’s downtown is finally about to get the makeover it has needed for a long time. On April 27th, the Troy City Council’s Streets and Sidewalks Committee will review a staff memo recommending that Council authorize bidding on the Downtown Safety and Streetscape Renovation Project — a $12 million investment in the heart of our city.
If that number sounds big, it is. But so is what is planned. The project covers Main Street from Cherry Street to Mulberry Street, Prouty Plaza, and Market Street between Water Street and Franklin Street. The improvements include updated brick pavers, new seating and lighting, digital kiosk boards in each quadrant of the Public Square, changes to how traffic moves through the roundabout, and a full redevelopment of Prouty Plaza. On top of all that, aging underground utility lines will be replaced — work that will allow downtown buildings to finally have fire suppression systems.
This project did not just appear overnight. It has been worked on, argued over, and reshaped since 2023. And a big reason why the final plan looks the way it does is because residents like you made your voices heard — loudly and clearly.
Residents Changed This Project
Think back to the spring of 2024. City consultants rolled out early ideas for the Public Square that, frankly, seemed more focused on moving cars through downtown faster than on making it safer and more enjoyable for people on foot. One proposal called for adding a second lane on the east side of the roundabout. Residents weren’t buying it.
More than 80 people showed up to a public meeting at the Bravo Room in May 2024. They pushed back hard. They told the consultants not just what they wanted, but what they did not want. They asked questions, made arguments, and demanded better answers. And it worked. By March 2025, the updated design showed real changes — the second lane was gone, green space in the roundabout center was expanded, and the iconic fountain and flagpole were staying put.
Then came the summer of 2025 and the proposed water feature at Prouty Plaza. Residents organized again. Some went door to door at downtown businesses. Others sent detailed emails to council members. Still others spoke up at public meetings and on social media. By early August 2025, the water feature was dropped. Council had heard the message.
In all, this project went through no fewer than six public forums before reaching this point. That is not just a box being checked — that is a community working through a real process to shape a real outcome.
What Comes Next
The design engineer’s estimate for construction comes in at $11.3 million, with a 7% contingency bringing the total authorization request to $12 million. The extra $700,000 beyond what was budgeted for 2026 is proposed to come from the Capital Improvement Fund, the Stormwater Fund, and the Water Fund.
If the Streets and Sidewalks Committee makes its recommendation and the full Council approves, the project goes out to bid — with construction expected to begin later this summer.
For a project that started with consultants pitching ideas that didn’t quite fit what this community wanted, it has come a long way. The final plan reflects what residents asked for: a downtown that works better for people walking, gathering, and spending time here — not just cars passing through.
That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because residents paid attention, showed up, and spoke up. This project is theirs as much as it is anyone’s. Now it’s time to build it.
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