The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation (SSPF) is distributing lawn signs with the message “Save Our City’s Historic Buildings.” The signs urge people to support the various activities of the Foundation to preserve the rich architectural heritage of Saratoga Springs.
Much of the success that Saratoga Springs has today is, in part, due to the preservation efforts that were made in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. It is important that the great advances our city has made over the past thirty years in preserving our rich architectural heritage not be allowed to slip away. The signs serve as a way to raise community awareness for the continued need to support historic preservation.
The Foundation has been actively working to oppose the demolition request currently before the City’s Design Review Commission for the Winans-Crippen house at 66 Franklin Street. This 1871 Second Empire style house designed by J.D. Stevens, an architect of the famed United States Hotel, is a “contributing building” to the Franklin Square-West Side Historic District listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. The Foundation is also working to save the structure at 23 Greenfield Avenue, the 1858 Wayland-Phillips House, from demolition. It also is a “contributing building” listed on the State and Federal National Register of Historic Places.
In 2008, the Foundation partnered with the City of Saratoga Springs to obtain a $13,000 New York State Certified Local Government grant to review and update the City’s historic zoning district ordinance. This effort is scheduled to begin this fall. The goal of this project is to bring the local ordinance in line with the State’s current model legislation, encourage better property maintenance, and prevent demolition. The Foundation is also helping with a neighborhood effort to have portions of Greenfield Avenue, Woodlawn Avenue, and Clement Avenue join the local historic zoning district.
In addition to those efforts, the Foundation is currently updating its “10 to Save” list. Compiled with the community’s input, this list identifies the most important buildings in our city that are threatened or endangered of being lost.
The Foundation also supports several educational programs focused on Saratoga Springs’ architectural heritage. Recent Sunday Strolls highlighted various historic areas of the city, introducing hundreds of people to our community’s history and important architectural treasures. The next special program will be the 20th Annual Candlelight Tour, held on December 4th, and featuring historic homes in the North Broadway Historic District.
A new Foundation program is the “Save Our City’s Historic Buildings” lawn sign initiative, which is designed to increase community awareness and support of the Foundation’s various preservation activities, including saving endangered properties. The lawn signs can be reserved by calling the Foundation office at 587-5030. A suggested donation of $10 is encouraged.
(518) 587-5030
info@saratogapreservation.org
