Troy

In Troy's North Central neighborhood, officials marked the start of a $3.3 million effort to convert the former School 1 into apartments by sounding the school's bells one last time.

Up the hill, steelworkers sounded a warning horn before hoisting a beam carrying a traditional pine tree and American flag to the highest point of Samaritan Hospital's new patient tower, part of a $99 million expansion project.

And downtown, a crowd gathered in front of the newest cafe as restaurant entrepreneurs Vic Christopher and Heather LaVine cut a ribbon to mark its official opening.

Ribbon-cuttings, groundbreakings and the like have become more frequent in the city as a series of projects gets under way or nears completion.

Friday morning, ground was to be broken for a 36-room, $3 million expansion of the Best Western Plus Franklin Square Inn, although site work got under way more than a week ago.

Two other hotels are also planned downtown, along with apartment projects and a new dormitory for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

The hospital expansion, at $99 million, is perhaps the largest investment. A $25 million fundraising campaign is less than $3 million from its goal, said Peter D. Semenza, vice president of philanthropy for St. Peter's Health Partners, the hospital's parent organization.

A multilevel parking garage has already been completed, and Semenza said the Heinrich Medicus Pavilion, as the five-story patient tower will be called, should be completed late in the third quarter or early in the fourth quarter of 2017.

The 96-year-old Medicus was among those attending the topping off ceremony. A former Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute professor, Medicus pledged $10 million to the project, the largest individual gift to a health care institution in the history of Troy and Rensselaer County.

The new pavilion includes 1,221 tons of steel and 5,600 cubic yards of concrete. The tradition of placing an American flag on the final piece of steel in a new structure dates back to the 19th century.

At School 1, the conversion to apartments is expected to be completed by the end of the year, said Tom Rossi, a partner in Redburn Development.

Rents are expected to be under $1,000 for most apartments, although a few larger two-bedroom units will cost more than $1,000. For a flat "all-in" fee, tenants will also be provided with a host of services, from high-speed wireless Internet to high-definition TV, electricity, and heating and cooling.

Rossi said Redburn Development is also expanding its wireless Internet services to the North Central neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Little Peck's, an all-day cafe, has joined a group of other businesses, including Peck's Arcade, the Lucas Confectionery and Twenty-two 2nd Street Wine Co. created by Christopher and LaVine in the area of Broadway and Second Street downtown.

They eventually hope to add a hotel to the mix.

eanderson@timesunion.com • 518-454-5323