As reported by Jim Franco:

TROY — The consultants hired by the city to determine not only the best future use for the former City Hall on Monument Square and make recommendations on a permanent home for the city’s seat of government have narrowed their choices down to four.

Of the eight preliminary sites studied by Sasaki Associates, the architectural firm recommends the current home of City Hall, the old Verizon building on Sixth Avenue that the city is now leasing, Proctor’s Theater on Fourth Street and the Capital District Education Opportunity Center building and is not counting out moving back to the Monument Square site.

Sasaki will hold a second public hearing March 3 at 6 p.m. at the Bush Memorial building at Russell Sage College.

“This is a chance for all Trojans to have a say in a redevelopment project that will have a lasting and historical impact on the changing face of Troy’s riverfront for generations to come,” said Mayor Harry Tutunjian. “This meeting is for all of the residents of Troy, from Lansingburgh to South Troy, and not just those in and around downtown.”

About 20 residents turned out for the first public hearing Dec. 2 to give Sasaki input on where they would like to see City Hall land permanently and what they would like to see happen with the existing riverfront site.

In November 2008, the city signed a $308,000 per year agreement with Judge Development to lease the Verizon building for three years. The offices were moved in 13 months later after a number of delays and disputes. There city filed a lawsuit, which is still pending, in an effort to re-coup some of the rent money it paid without being able to occupy the building.

There are also state grants totaling some $6 million, which the city will have to match a percentage of, available to develop the Monument Square property in addition to completing other projects in the city.