The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation (SSPF) announced that it will award a $50,000 grant to encourage the successful rehabilitation of the historic Winans-Crippen House located at 66 Franklin Street, which has been put up for sale by its current owner. On September 13, 2011, the Board of Directors voted to provide a grant for rehabilitation. The grant is available to a purchaser, or even the current owner, after successful rehabilitation of the house for an approved use, in compliance with the City’s Historic Review requirements, and upon issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
66 Franklin Street, 2012
“This grant opportunity is part of the Foundation’s effort to find a buyer for the Winans-Crippen House who appreciates its value to the Franklin Square area and has the creative vision to see the potential of a unique historic property in the heart of downtown,” said Samantha Bosshart, SSPF executive director.
“The Preservation Foundation hopes to leverage its $50,000 commitment to secure additional funding for rehabilitation of the property, “said Bosshart.
“We know that rehabilitation of this house is a daunting proposal. But look around Saratoga and you’ll find many remarkable success stories including restoration of the Batcheller Mansion, Universal Preservation Hall, and the row houses on Clinton Street. We are determined to add the Winans-Crippen House to this list.”
The current owner, Joseph Boff, withdrew an application for demolition that had been before the City’s Design Review Commission (DRC) since late 2008, citing his desire to sell the property. Late last year, the Saratoga Springs City Court ordered Boff to secure the property from the elements and unauthorized entry, as well as to take measures to maintain its structural integrity. In April of this year, the State Supreme Court issued an injunction against demolition of the house, absent an approval from the DRC, or an order from the State Supreme Court. The City Court recently ordered Boff to bring the structure into compliance with the New York State Property Maintenance Code.
All inquiries concerning the property should be directed to Bill Walker, the listing agent at Roohan Realty at 518-587-4500. The Preservation Foundation has a substantial amount of information on the property available on its website at: www.saratogapreservation.org.
The Winans-Crippen House was built in 1871 by the family of local merchant David Winans, who retained as their architect J. D. Stevens, the designer of several notable structures in the city, including the United States Hotel on Broadway. Built in the Second Empire style popular around the time of the Civil War, the house was expanded by an addition to the north in about 1877. The house is a contributing structure in the West Side – Franklin Square Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is included within the City of Saratoga Springs’ Historic District. It is an important part of the Franklin Square area streetscape, which showcases the architectural history of Saratoga Springs in the 19th Century. It has been recognized as having national importance by the National Trust for Historic Preservation which has highlighted it as a “threatened” structure in the Trust’s magazine, Preservation.