News

The City of Troy has remarkable alleyways that can tell historical stories beyond their functional use as passageways for commerce. The Arts Center of the Capital Region (ACCR) worked in partnership with the City of Troy to transform a section of downtown's Franklin Alley to create an attractive pedestrian walkway.  The project required the cooperation of the property owners along the alley (who had to find new locations for their garbage dumpsters), the City of Troy (who repaved the alley), and National Grid (who installed new and attractive lighting). The Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation joined with other local private funders to help make project completion possible.

The outcome is an inviting walkway connecting restaurants and cultural venues while creating a new common plaza space that engages residents and visitors allowing for small performances, community activities, and outside dining for nearby restaurants in the mode of European outdoor eateries. The muralist, Joe Iurato, is nationally known for creating murals where people appear to “peek out” from the walls. Mr. Iurato worked with Troy residents to create a mural that tells the story of the alley in an interesting and attractive way.