City of Rensselaer Receives $250,000.00 for Technical Assistance to Grow Pro-Housing Communities
City of Rensselaer Receives $250,000.00 for Technical Assistance to Grow Pro-Housing Communities
(Rensselaer, NY – February 27, 2026) In 2024 the City of Rensselaer was recognized by New York State as a Pro-Housing Community. Simultaneously, the New York State funded “Rensselaer Rising” Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Study was evaluating vacant and underutilized properties in the city for potential redevelopment. In 2025 the Rensselaer Rising BOA Plan was officially recognized by New York State. The BOA Plan identified 615 East Street, Rensselaer, NY as Strategic Site 1 for potential redevelopment. This 7+ acre site is owned by the Capital District Transportation Authority (CDTA) and adjacent to the CDTA managed Amtrak Train Station. The site is presently used for surface parking but original plans for the train station included a second parking garage. The City of Rensselaer and CDTA are interested in developing this area by incorporating the second parking structure into a mixed-use transit-oriented development site. This site has immediate proximity to the Amtrak Station, Rensselaer’s downtown, local neighborhoods, and major highways and is an ideal location for a mix of residential and commercial development.
In November of 2025 the City of Rensselaer applied to New York State for a Technical Assistance to Grow Pro-Housing Communities grant to further explore the East Street Redevelopment Project and has received a $250,000.00 award. Technical Assistance funding will be used to procure a consultant or consultants to refine the East Street Redevelopment Plan. This will likely result in economic/housing analyses and reports (including potential funding sources for final design and construction); infrastructure analyses; environmental analyses/studies; renewable and alternative energy feasibility studies; design development, engineering, construction plans and specifications with estimates; development and implementation of marketing strategies; legal and financial services (including public/private development on public owned property that is regulated by Federal Transit Administration); real estate services and public outreach, all working towards mixed-use transit-oriented development on East Street near the Train Station.
“Moving things forward is oftentimes a process, and I was happy to be part of the Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) Study and the Pro-Housing Community Designation while serving as Rensselaer Common Council President. I am grateful to New York State for all this support and I look forward to being a part of the Technical Assistance Process as Rensselaer Mayor, said John Defrancesco. “Through this process, and with significant input from the community, we will develop a plan for Transit Oriented Development on East Street near the Train Station,” concluded Mayor DeFrancesco.
“Working with CDTA we envision a parking structure built below grade at East and Herrick Streets, then at street level and above we anticipate a mix of transit-oriented retail, other commercial tenants and residential units for several stories above,” added Thomas Hulihan, Rensselaer’s Director of Planning and Development.
“CDTA looks forward to continuing discussions with the City of Rensselaer regarding the proposed East Street Redevelopment Plan,” said CDTA CEO Frank Annicaro. “Transit-oriented development helps create strong, connected communities, and this project is a great opportunity to make better use of land near the Joseph L. Bruno Rail Station. By linking this area to not only Amtrak but also CDTA’s route network, we are helping drive economic growth, expand access to jobs and services, and build a more connected Capital Region.”
This is the second grant the City of Rensselaer received related to having Pro-Housing Community status. In 2024 Rensselaer received $246,486.00 through an Empire State Development Pro-Housing Capital Improvements Grant. That funding was used to make water infrastructure improvements by replacing an antiquated Pressure Relieving Valve and Water Meter Vault on Third Avenue. The new equipment was recently installed and will assure adequate water delivery and water pressure to the residences and businesses in south end of the city for many years to come.
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