The train station on Martin Street will be the site of Mayor Joseph R. Fusco Jr.’s first state of the city address, he said today.

"It’s a nice venue," said Fusco, who is in the first year of his first four-year term. He said he chose it because he wanted to draw attention to "one of those unique buildings we have in the city that we under-utilize."

There’s also a parallel, he said: "a 100 years ago the train station was being designed" and now there’s "a new mayor and a new administration coming into focus." In both cases, he said, there’s "the idea of change and bringing something new into the community."

The station opened in 1913. It was taken over by the city in June of 1988, when Amtrak pulled its agent from the station. Since then, patrons have had to get train and ticket information from the Utica station.

Fusco has not set a date for his address yet. He said the speech is currently being written, and when the final draft is done he will announce a date for the event.

What he has settled on, he said, is that it will be held in the evening and on a weekday, so that it will be easiest for the public to attend. Also, it will feature a question-and-answer session, as Fusco said he wants it to have a town hall feel.

The state of the city address, given annually by the mayor, was often held in January, but has recently been held in April, after the state and county budgets have been passed.