TROY, NY (Albany Business Review) — The landlord for Troy’s government is pushing back against Mayor Carmella Mantello’s early termination of the lease for city hall.
An attorney for First Columbia LLC wrote a letter Monday to the city’s corporation counsel saying the termination — set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027 — isn’t valid because it conflicts with the wording of the lease for the fifth floor of 433 River St.
The lease can only be terminated “in the event the city council approves a new city hall site,” a step that didn’t occur, according to the letter written by Michael W. Macomber of Tully Rinckey PLLC, who represents First Columbia LLC.
“As the city council never approved a new city hall site,” according to the letter, “the mayor’s letter is null and void.”
“As recently as June 2,” the letter continues, “multiple members of the city’s council have been outspoken in the media that the administration has not even presented a new city hall site for the city council’s approval.”
Mantello has said an announcement about the location of a new city hall will be made soon but hasn’t yet disclosed to the council where it will be. She defended that approach in the city council chambers last week, saying it’s similar to how other requests for proposals are handled.
“There’s going to be a lot for the council to digest after we announce the final choice,” Mantello told the council, adding there will be an opportunity for feedback and public comment.
A member of the council’s Democrat minority questioned corporation counsel Richard Morrissey about the wording of the early termination clause in the lease.
“It doesn’t say that the city council has to approve that site before the termination clause is exercised, however it says the term clause must be exercised by June 1,” Morrissey told the council. “To leave the option open we exercised the termination clause … but it ultimately will depend on council approval of an alternative site.”
“The alternative interpretation would mean that it could not have been exercised and we would be locked into the lease until the end of [2029],” Morrissey added. “I think it’s a defensible interpretation.”
The mayor’s spokesman released a statement Wednesday in response to the letter from First Columbia’s attorney: “The city of Troy has lawfully and timely exercised its option to terminate the lease with First Columbia at 433 River Street. On January 1, 2027, we expect to be in a new city hall site approved by the city council.”
