FAQ

Mahicantuck is the Indigenous name for the Hudson River. Mahicantuck-means “great waters in constant motion” or, more loosely, “river that flows two ways.” It highlights the fact that this waterway is more than a river-it is a tidal estuary, an arm of the sea where salty sea water meets fresh water running off the land.

We have many ways to get involved ! Check our the How You Can Help! tab in the main menu to learn more about our current campaigns, actions and how you can be part of saving this land and preserving history and the environment.

The City of Troy lists their meetings on their website:

Troy City Council Meetings

City of Troy Planning Commissions Meetings

 If you want to join the meeting and have found any issues in doing so – please contact us immediately and let us know about the situation – especially if it is in regards to a residency requirement which is a violation of NYS Open Meetings law. Please let us know and we will take action.

Friends of the Mahicantuck is a grassroots community organization working to preserve and protect indigenous land in Troy, NY. Currently, we are focussing our efforts on protecting an indigenous heritage site at 1011 2nd Avenue in Troy, NY; which is also the last untouched waterfront forest with in the city. 

Our mission is to prevent the proposed large-scale development project at this site, prevent the city from rezoning the land, work on a solution with the involved stakeholders, and achieve the long-term protection of the land, its forest and indigenous heritage from destruction. We are also working on the long-term preservation of this land, its full protection, and the maintenance of the heritage sites and forest. 

This land is significant in multiple ways: It is a critical ecological connector land between the wetlands to the north, peeples island and downstream communities; it is a critical habitat for rare damsel and dragonflies, and an important part of the habitat of a local bald eagle population.

Recently rare Scrub Oak were found on the property – which are also habitat indicators of globally rare Buck Moths – which could be nesting on this property.

In it’s natural state, it an important buffer to prevent soil erosion, downstream-flooding and stormwater runoff into the sensitive ecology of the Hudson River. It is also a critical factor in the city’s microclimate — providing cool air in the summer, absorbing rainwaters and stormwater runoff and importantly contributing to the city’s air quality. It also plays a major role in preventing soil erosion, flooding and storm impacts as a buffer for the city’s downstream communities. 

The land is the site of unique archeological sites with national-scale importance. Human activity on this land dates back to 1500-3000 B.C.. It is also suspected as one of the potential sites for an indigenous village located in this area. For its significance, the site is eligible for listing in the National Register. Mahican, Lenapee and Schaghticoke peoples all maintain close ties to this land, grown over centuries. 

This land is in the Golub family’s private estate. Kevin Vandenburgh, who wants to develop this land, has an option to buy however does not currently own this land. Without the rezoning, there is little interest for the developer to actually further pursue this land. There is also the risk that the developer sells the land after a rezoning is granted to another developer who then could apply for tax credits with the city. 

Most likely: no. There are several reasons to think that the tax revenue for the city and school district will quickly evaporate. The local police station is already at capacity, as is the fire department. Increased traffic on the narrow street along the property will increase maintenance costs. The anticipated 30 new students entering the local school district will cause more costs than the anticipated revenue for the district, according to calculation that we provided to the city in collaboration with experts. The increased pressure on the old sewage infrastructure will lead to additional fines for sewage overflow. Increased road maintenance, public safety, public services, etc. all quickly exceed the tax revenue, according to our calculations. 

Our long-term goal is to oversee the protection and preservation of this land by placing it into trust with its original custodians or a local Land Trust. We are working with multiple organizations on creating the capacities to bring this land into long-term preservation and create direct community benefits; Some ideas we are working on include the creation of a cultural educational center or program, a community food and medicine garden, trails and a preservation area to secure the land, its archeology and ecology for the public and for generations to come.