Honor Charles Touhey Recognition

Senate Resolution No. 2203 BY: Senator BRESLIN COMMENDING Charles Touhey upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, Inc. on September 27, 2019 WHEREAS, From time to time this Legislative Body takes note of certain extraordinary individuals it wishes to recognize for their valued contributions to the success and progress of society and publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Charles Touhey upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, Inc. to be celebrated at its 1st Annual Gala on Friday, September 27, 2019, at Treviso by Mallozzi's in Albany, New York; and WHEREAS, Charles Touhey is being honored for his tireless efforts to further the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region's mission of strengthening communities by fostering unity, self-determination, cooperative economics, collective work, and creativity; and WHEREAS, A native of Albany, Charles Touhey attended Princeton University and served in the United States Peace Corps in Micronesia; for 10 years, he was the Director of Capital Housing of Albany, a nationally recognized housing rehabilitation and home ownership program, which has provided homes for over 200 families; in recognition of his achievements rehabilitating and restoring neighborhoods, he was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award by the Albany Junior Chamber of Commerce; and WHEREAS, Always eager to make a difference, Charles Touhey ran for the office of Mayor of Albany in 1981; during his campaign, he designed and constructed a new "In-Fill" prototype, which is intended to attract middle income homeowners back to central cities; he has constructed and marketed them in five cities and two states in the Northeast; and WHEREAS, In 1985, in recognition of Charles Touhey's innovative ideas on "In-Fill" housing, one of his projects was selected as the first Affordable Housing demonstration site in New York State by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); to date, he has developed over 800 units of housing totaling in excess of $30,000,000; and WHEREAS, From 1989-1993, Charles Touhey served on the Mayor's Housing Advisory Council, and was instrumental in Albany's designation in 1991 as an "All-America City" by the National League of Cities; and WHEREAS, in 2002, Charles Touhey was selected by Mayor Jennings to serve on the Arbor Hill Revitalization Task Force which included the development of new two family homes for first time home buyers; and WHEREAS, Today, this hardworking and dynamic man continues to serve as a role model for all; he is a vital member of the boards of the College of Saint Rose Board of Trustees and the Albany Center for Economic Success (ACES), and serves as the Chair of the Board of The Albany County Land Bank Corporation; and WHEREAS, Charles Touhey is also the author of The Capital Answer, a publication on housing rehabilitation for low and moderate income homeowners, and Managing Partner of The Latham Four Partnership; in this capacity, he oversees over one million square feet of offices and distribution facilities in New York and Florida, and has developed several residential subdivisions using such innovations as modular housing; and WHEREAS, Under his luminous leadership, the Touhey Homeownership Foundation is currently partnering with Capital District Habitat for Humanity in the construction of 60 new owner occupied homes in the historic Sheridan Hollow Neighborhood; and WHEREAS, In addition, Charles Touhey holds the title of President for both Orange Motor Company, Albany's oldest and largest Ford dealer, and The Spare Room, Inc., self-storage facilities with over 3,000 units; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Charles Touhey upon the occasion of his designation for special recognition by the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region, Inc. on September 27, 2019; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Charles Touhey.