Mayor Madden Nominates New Planning and Economic Development Commissioner
TROY, N.Y. — Dylan Turek, currently serving as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Troy, has been nominated to serve as the city’s next Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development by Mayor Wm. Patrick Madden. Steven Strichman will be leaving public service with the City of Troy on June 30 after seven years of working within the Madden Administration as Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development, growing the city’s economy despite the unique challenges posed by city debt obligations and the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Per the City Charter, Mr. Turek will engage in a confirmation process with the Troy City Council.
Mr. Turek has played an instrumental role in facilitating and managing impactful projects with the Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development, including 1 Monument Square, the John P. Taylor Apartments and the South Troy Brownfield Opportunities Area. Mr. Turek has also helped Troy win nearly $20 million in competitive grant funding and was a pivotal support for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative planning process following Troy’s selection in 2021.
“As Commissioner of our city’s Planning and Economic Development Department, Steven Strichman has been a driving force in growing Troy’s economic rebound in a sustainable, equitable and lasting way, and I am proud of his many contributions to the vitality of our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Wm. Patrick Madden. “His work leaves an indelible legacy of upward progress that I know his successor, Dylan Turek, is capable of both living up to and building upon as Troy continues to grow and thrive for years to come.”
“I’m excited by the opportunity to continue working for the people of Troy with the Madden Administration in a new capacity and I’m thankful to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for their faith in my ability to continue the progress we’ve made during my time here working with Steve Strichman,” said Director Dylan Turek. “My focus as Commissioner remains the same as it was before: forwarding a transformative slate of development projects, helping shift Troy’s economic focus to meet the rapid growth of clean energy and green industries, and working with our partners to improve the quality of life, safety and vibrancy in all our neighborhoods. Each project in our ambitious development portfolio will make a lasting impact for our families and I look forward to working with our neighbors to realize our community’s potential.”
“Serving the City of Troy has been the opportunity of a lifetime and I thank Mayor Madden, the many people I’ve worked with at City Hall, and the public for their trust, collaboration and support,” said Commissioner Steven Strichman. “Together, we worked to move old designs forward and advance great new initiatives, and by investing in projects that support mixed use, green space and affordable living, we are leading the region in building more vibrant, accessible and walkable neighborhoods.”
The Planning Department is responsible for the planning, development, coordination and promotion of the physical, social and economic well-being of the city. The department serves as staff and adviser to the City of Troy's Planning Commission, Historic District Commission, and the Zoning Board of Appeals. The department also serves as staff and advisor to the Troy Industrial Development Authority, Troy Local Development Corporation, and the Troy Capital Resource Corporation.
Commissioner Strichman has been instrumental in ensuring that economic development projects equitably address the needs of our neighborhoods. In addition to overseeing the growth of the small business community, Strichman has encouraged the growth of Troy’s housing stock and ensured projects were responsive to community needs. He has worked to make our city safer, working on intersection upgrades to reduce pedestrian and motorist fatalities. He notes taking pride in the Garnet Douglass Baltimore hiking trail, which has become a fixture of the park since its opening on August 13, 2018.
Many projects continue to be overseen by Planning and Economic Development, including the reimagining of affordable housing at the John P. Taylor Apartments, the revitalization of the waterfront through 1 Monument Square, and the rebuilding of a public square through the Troy Atrium project.