Projects
Alley Action – Alley Addresses
Have you ever attempted to locate a specific building in an alley? You may have counted the buildings on the street to the corner, and tried the same count in the alley. With accuracy and some luck, you found the object building. Imagine if you are a first responder to an emergency. This time consuming method might increase the potential property damage or even cause loss of life.
Considering this, the Alley Action Project joined with the Osgood/South Troy Neighborhood Watch to apply alley addresses to the alley face of properties in the Osgood neighborhood. This simple action provided numerous benefits; safety being first and foremost. Fire, police, and emergency utility workers will be able to easily, quickly, and accurately locate a building in need of attention. Another result is the immediate and clear property ownership. It indicates to passersby that the property is private. It also helps to create a secondary entrance, and may inspire residents to improve that face of their property.
Manufacturing these address signs can vary considerably. Each neighborhood or each block can design a distinctive style to use in their area. The important characteristic is that the marker be highly visible in the daylight and reflective in the dark of night. A degree of similarity in the design and in the hanging location will improve the usability of the address markers.
Our method was to begin with a 10” x10” galvanized metal plate, approximately 20 gauge in thickness. These were purchased from “Metal Supermarkets” on Railroad Avenue in Albany, NY, for about $2 each. The galvanized plates are bright during the day and reflective at night. We utilized 2” and 3” number stencils and spray paint to produce the addresses. The black paint is easily seen during the day and will show up on the reflective surface at night when lit. Small holes were drilled into the plates at each corner to provide a way to attach the plate to exiting walls or fences. The plates can be easily screwed to wood fences, wood buildings or wood trim on masonry buildings. They can be wired to chain-link fences with short pieces of galvanized wire or plastic zip–ties.
Franklin Alley Mural
The largest building on the alley was the target of vandals and weeds.
Neighbors and kids traveled the alley daily and‚ feeling depressed‚ asked a simple question. “What can we do about this?”
Three years before, two of the neighbors who lived on this alley helped to create a booklet of concepts and specific ideas to reclaim, improve and develop Troy's alleys.
The results are contained in The Alley Improvement Project 2006
They decided to apply for a local‚ financial grant to cover the basic costs for a proposed mural on the alley-side of the building. Besides the many gallons of paint and several brushes‚ they needed funds to hire an artist. Public art requires a professional such as Armando Soto, with the experience and ability to work with all involved in creating a mural.
Invitations to participate in a design workshop were hand delivered to everyone living on the alley block. Younger and older‚ those who would see and live with the completed work became invested in the final product.
Artist Armando Soto led the way. He repeated again and again, “Anything goes! Use your imaginations. Draw what you like. Put something of yourself into your pictures. What is your vision?”
After assembling the many drawings into a collage of images‚ the artist said‚ “Now it’s my job to make and color a unified picture‚ one that represents your alley‚ one that represents each of you.”
Two weeks before the big day‚ the alley-face of the building had to be properly prepared. Neighbors volunteered to clear the weeds and patch the brickwork’s holes and gaps. Two coats of primer were applied. The 50 foot by 14 foot brick canvas was ready for the paint-by-number drawing.
It had to be dark in order to project the image onto the building. It took three nights to get it right‚ all 15 numbers/colors included.
Two days of rain proceeded The Big Day‚ and all were worried. But the sun shone bright to greet the 80 neighbors‚ old and young‚ who came that Saturday‚ ready to paint. Spirits were high and the only rule was‚ “Match the color to the number and stay inside the lines!”
Local television and newspaper reporters
joined in and soon had great stories to tell…
Everyone who came painted a little or a lot. The day wore on and masses of food and drink were consumed. After eight hours‚ all were tired. The mural was complete. The many smiles reflected the satisfaction of a job well done.
Now‚ several months later‚ the Franklin Alley Mural is the neighborhood’s pride. It remains graffiti free as even vandals realize that genuine art should be respected.
The neighbors and kids who travel the alley still smile as they pass by.