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We Need Your Help Updating
Our Ten
to Save List
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is
currently in the process of updating its endangered property list that
accompanies our Ten to Save List.
The Foundation is asking members of the community to help identify
historic structures that are in danger of being
lost.
For over a decade the Foundation has been periodically
updating its list, which now numbers over 100 buildings. In 1998, in
conjunction with a grant from the City of Saratoga Springs, the Foundation undertook its
first comprehensive inventory of threatened buildings. The most recent update
of the Ten to Save List was in
2007.
It is time again to look to see what buildings have been
saved, lost, continue to be threatened and those that need to be added since our
last update in 2007. Buildings can be threatened by a continued lack of
maintenance, also known as “demolition by neglect,” or through planned
demolition.
As you walk or drive through Saratoga Springs, are there
structures whose fate you are worried about and you feel are worthy of
preservation for future generations? If the answer is yes, please contact the
Foundation by phone (518) 587-5030 or email sbosshart@saratogapreservation.org
with the address by Wednesday, September
16th. Any additional information that you can provide such as names
of current owners or previous owners, condition, history, date of construction,
and/or why you feel the building is threatened would be helpful, but is not
necessary. Nominations can be anonymous.
Please keep in mind that an endangered structure needs
to require more than routine maintenance and cosmetic work. Structural or
historical elements have to be deteriorated to a significant degree. Examples
include: foundations that are cracking and causing the building to list or sag
or roofs in need of major repair that are allowing water to penetrate the
interior of the building. Often such buildings have been unoccupied for an
extended period of time.
Not every old building is worth saving, but each
structure nominated will be evaluated on several criteria by a Foundation
committee to determine if it is worth saving and if it is eligible for inclusion
on our list. The Foundation seeks to raise awareness of, and solutions for
structures that are threatened and contribute to Saratoga Springs’ rich architectural heritage.
This project continues the mission of the Saratoga
Springs Preservation Foundation, founded in 1977, to preserve and enhance the
rich architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs. Help
Save Our
City’s Historic Buildings!
Saratoga Springs Summer Sunday Strolls
Come stroll on Sundays to learn about Saratoga Springs' rich architectural heritage!
All tours cost $5 per person and start at 11:00 a.m.
Each tour lasts approximately 90 minutes.
Reservations are encouraged, but not necessary.
For more information or to make a reservation, please call (518) 587-5030
SUNDAY, AUGUST 30
Old School: Historic Skidmore Campus
Leslie Benton
SE Corner of Union Avenue & Circular Street
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
Dublin: The Heart and Soul of Saratoga
Margie Van Meter
SW Corner of Grand Avenue & Beekman Street
(142 Grand Avenue, The Local)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
Springs to Bling: An Overview of Saratoga Springs
James Kettlewell
Governor/Peerless Spring Pavilion located at High Rock Park on High Rock Avenue, north of the Farmers' Market Pavilion.
STOP DEMOLITIONS!
23 Greenfield Ave. Photo shows steps taken to prepare for demolition.
Update: On July 7, 2009 the City Council passed by a unanimous vote the temporary demolition moratorium.
May is National Preservation
Month with a theme of “This Place Matters!” However, Preservation Month is off to an inauspicious start in Saratoga Springs. Several weeks ago a lovely historic brick
mid-19th century house located at 23 Greenfield Avenue lost its windows and
portions of its roof under the guise of asbestos removal and lead abatement. Recently the Department of Public Works
received an application to shut off city services to the building and the
Building Department received an application for a demolition permit.
The house
located at 23 Greenfield Avenue
is a place that matters! It is
identified as a “contributing structure” to the federally designated Broadway
National Register Historic District. However,
it is unprotected from demolition because it is not part of the
City’s Historic Zoning District, which affords these historic structures protection from demolition and inappropriate alterations.
We need to take a time-out
and give our threatened buildings a breather. The City has been awarded a grant from the New York State Office of
Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to review and update its historic
preservation ordinance. Included in this
effort would be consideration of expanding the local historic district to protect
buildings that are similar to 23 Greenfield Avenue.
To prevent further loss of
historic buildings while improvements to the ordinance are being considered,
the Foundation has requested that the City Council impose a temporary moratorium on the issuance of
demolition permits within the City’s Historic Zoning District, as well as all
buildings outside the City’s designated district that are identified as
“contributing” to historic districts listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. Such a moratorium would
allow time for such ordinances to be drafted and adopted.
A public hearing to discuss
the temporary moratorium on demolitions is scheduled for Tuesday, June 16th at 6:40 p.m. at City Hall, 474
Broadway. Please come and voice your
support for protecting 23 Greenfield Avenue and the rich architectural heritage that
makes Saratoga
Springs the great place it is to live, work and visit. If you are unable to attend, please send a
letter to the Mayor and Commissioners at City Hall, 474 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY
12866 or email
Scott Johnson, Mayor –
scott.johnson@saratoga-springs.org
John
Franck, Commissioner of
Accounts – john.franck@saratoga-springs.org
Kenneth Ivins, Commissioner
of Finance – ken.ivins@saratoga-springs.org
Ron Kim, Commissioner of
Public Safety – ron.kim@saratoga-springs.org
Anthony “Skip” Scirocco,
Commissioner of Public Works - skip.scirocco@saratogasprings.org.
Opposes Demolition of Historic Winans-Crippen House on Franklin Street
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17th
7:00 PM
DESIGN REVIEW COMMISSION
City Hall
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation has announced that it would oppose a proposal by Florida resident Joseph Boff to demolish the historic Winans-Crippen House on Franklin Street in Saratoga Springs and replace it with a vacant lot. Mr. Boff purchased the property in its current condition in September 2008. The application for permission to demolish the structure is on the City’s Design Review Commission agenda for Wednesday, March 4th.
Preservation Foundation Executive Director Samantha Bosshart said: “While this unique structure has suffered from a lack of maintenance over the years, it can be saved and continue to contribute to the remarkable group of buildings that make up Saratoga’s Franklin Square Historic District.”
The Winans-Crippen House at 66 Franklin Street, built in 1871, is a contributing structure in the Franklin Square Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Franklin Square area contains a collection of 19th Century structures whose architecture documents the growth of Saratoga Springs as one of America’s most important resorts. The Winans-Crippen House, built for David Winans, a local merchant, and subsequently owned by George Crippen, owner of a dry goods business and later a women’s dress manufacturer, is a unique example of a Second Empire style townhouse built on a narrow city lot. The house was designed by prominent Saratoga Springs architect John D. Stevens, who also designed the now lost United States and Grand Central Hotels on Broadway. It is one of a handful of structures designed by Stevens remaining in Saratoga Springs. The demolition of the Winans-Crippen House would seriously diminish the integrity of the West Side – Franklin Square Historic District.
The Preservation Foundation recently hired Donald Friedman P.E., Adjunct Assistant Professor of Historic Structures at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and the Principal of Old Structures Engineering PC to evaluate the building. He concluded that while the building has been damaged by weathering and improper interior demolition, it is not currently unsafe and can reasonably be repaired.
Since the building is not in danger of collapse, Bosshart said that the Preservation Foundation had asked Mr. Boff to delay his application for demolition for at least six months. During this period, the Foundation offered to assist him in seeking alternative uses for the building that will preserve its architectural integrity. These activities could include seeking another buyer for the structure; identifying uses for the structure other than a single-family house; and development of the adjacent lot in conjunction with preservation of the Winans-Crippen House. Unfortunately, Mr. Boff was unwilling to delay consideration of his application and the Preservation Foundation was unable to reach an agreement with him.
Noting that the City’s Design Review Commission is charged with preventing the destruction of significant structures in historic districts, Saratoga resident Douglas Kerr, President of the Preservation Foundation said, “The Winans-Crippen House has survived two world wars, the great depression, urban renewal and a proposed arterial highway through the middle of Franklin Square. Surely it can survive the Design Review Commission, the very body created to protect it.”
Preservation Foundation Honors
James Kettlewell and the New York Racing Association
The
Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation announces James Kettlewell and
the New York Racing Association will be honored Friday, May 8th, at the
7th Annual Spirit of Preservation Awards. Each year, the Foundation
recognizes individuals or organizations who, through their hard work
and dedication to the ideals of historic preservation, have contributed
to the overall quality of life for citizens of Saratoga Springs.
James
Kettlewell, author of Saratoga Springs: An Architectural History and
professor emeritus of Skidmore College, is being honored for his
lifetime contributions to the Foundation and his dedication to
promoting the historic preservation of Saratoga Springs' rich
architectural fabric. The New York Racing Association is being
recognized for its stewardship of the Saratoga Race Course. Since
1955, NYRA has retained the historic integrity of the track through its
maintenance of over 200 structures and landscapes, as well as honoring
the character of the race course when making upgrades and changes.
The
Awards Celebration will take place at The Saratoga Automobile Museum.
For more information about joining the Honorary Committee and/or
tickets to the event, please call (518) 587 - 5030.
Race Course Reflections: Ashley Halsey's Saratoga Race Course, featuring watercolors of historic Saratoga Race Course and comments by people whose lives are intertwined with the racing season, has been released by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. The publication, illustrated by Ashley Halsey and edited by Helen Susan Edelman, will benefit the Foundation by the sale of both the original art and the limited-edition book.
"The Foundation is excited to have this opportunity to highlight Saratoga Race Course, especially areas that many people who go to the track do not often have the opportunity to see," says Samantha Bosshart, Executive Director of the Foundation. "The Foundation commissioned Ashley Halsey to paint watercolors of the historic Saratoga Race Course to capture its unique sense of place as part of an ongoing effort to advocate for the preservation of the track as a living legacy for future generations."
Race Course Reflections: Ashley Halsey's Saratoga Race Course is $12.95, plus tax and shipping/handling. Boxes of twelve note cards featuring four of the watercolors are also available for $18.95, plus tax and shipping/handling.
The original watercolor paintings are for sale and can be viewed by following the link below. Half the price of an original watercolor is a tax-deductible donation to the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.
Books, note cards and original watercolors are available at Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation.
Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation
112 Spring St., Suite 203
Saratoga Springs, New York 12866
518.587.5030
Hours: Weekdays excluding Holidays 9:00 - 4:00
Watercolor Originals
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is pleased to present Saratoga Race Course Watercolor Originals by Ashley Halsey. The Foundation comissioned Ashley to paint watercolors of the Race Course to raise awareness of the many aspects of this architectural jewel. Ashley, from Stonington, Connecticut, has a degree in Studio Art from Skidmore College and currently works at Harper Collins Publishers as an Assistant Designer. In February 2008, the Adirondack Trust Company printed Saratoga: A Historical Guide, a book that Ashley illustrated, designed and wrote.
Ashley's watercolors can be viewed by clicking here: online gallery. Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing watercolors or prints.
In continuing support of the Saratoga Race Course, half of the listed price on the original watercolors is a tax-deductable donation to the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. Proceeds from Ashley's watercolors support preserving Saratoga Springs' historic Race Track. More information on the preservation efforts for the Saratoga Race Course can be found at www.historicsaratogaracecourse.org
SSPF is advocating for a balanced approach to preservation and modernization at the Saratoga Race Course. Our position has been endorsed by the Downtown Business Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the History Museum, Supervisor Joanne Yepsen, the Preservation League of New York State and others. Click here to read about the preservation challenges at the Race Course and to read our positon. We invite and encourage you to add your name to support the Race Course Preservation Coalition.
In February the Governor and the State Legislature reached an agreement on resolving the future of thoroughbred racing in the Spa City. Included within the bill were provisions calling for an inventory of all structures and landscape attributes on the grounds of the historic track in Saratoga Springs, as well as review of NYRA’s capital plan for the Saratoga Racecourse by the State Historic Preservation Office. The Foundation and the Racecourse Coalition had been working with State government to ensure that measures aimed at protecting the historic nature of the track and its environs were part of the overall legislation which granted NYRA a twenty-five year franchise to operate the track.
Under the terms of the bill, a local advisory board will be created, made up of representatives appointed by the Mayor, the County Board of Supervisors and NYRA. The board will work with the State Historic Preservation Office to conduct a comprehensive historic resources inventory of all track property structures and landscape feature, including their physical condition. Those aspects of the property which are of historic, architectural or cultural significance may be advanced by the board for consideration for inclusion in the National and State Registers of Historic Places and in local historic districts.
Restoring the Exterior of Your Historic House or Building?
The City's Real Property Tax Abatement program is available to help fund exterior restoration projects. Adopted in 2000, this program abates the portion of an increase in your assessment that is due to rehabilitation of your historic house. Eligible properties must be in the City's local historic zoning district, and projects must have been reviewed and approved by the Design Review Commission. The abatement applies only to City property taxes, not school or county taxes. For more details and to get an application, contact the Preservation Foundation office. The deadline for 2008 taxes is March 1, 2008.
Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance
SSPF held a workshop on the Neighborhood Preservation Ordinance on April 2, 2007. In the workshop, we reviewed the symptoms of extreme deterioration and how to recognize it, we talked about the several programs that provide financial assistance for repair and maintenance, and we walked through the proposed Neighborhood Preservation ordinance. We invited those who attended the workshop to share with us their impressions, suggestions, concerns. If you were unable to attend the workshop, we would still like to hear from you. Please download the proposal and give us your feedback using the Neighborhood Preservation Blog.
Ten to Save
Out of our survey of the current condition of the historic neighborhoods in Saratoga Springs done in the Fall of 2003 and reviewed periodically by volunteers with the Foundation, we identified about 20% of the buildings in the survey area had some conditions that threatened the historic integrity of the building. We have selected the ten buildings that are the most significantly threatened because of neglect, vacancy or abandonment, or over-development. Click here to see the list of Ten Buildings Worth Saving.
Preservation Foundation Executive Director Samantha Bosshart said: “While this unique structure has suffered from a lack of maintenance over the years, it can be saved and continue to contribute to the remarkable group of buildings that make up Saratoga’s Franklin Square Historic District.”
