Thanks to our friends and supporters we successfully surpassed our $20,000 Matching Gift Goal!
The funds raised from the Annual Appeal enables us to be a strong advocate for preserving our special community, provide technical assistance, assist with restoration projects, and host educational programs and events.
With your help, we were able to achieve so much this past year!
WINTER 2020
- We planned and secured homes to be featured on the 2020 Historic Homes Tour, scheduled for the Saturday of Mother’s Day Weekend.
- We hosted two well-attended “Gangster” programs at the historic Inn at Saratoga.
- We provided comments on the first draft of the proposed City of Saratoga Springs Unified Development Ordinance, which will guide the future planning of our city.
- We traveled to sunny Palm Springs, California with the Landmark Society of Western New York for Modernism Week, an annual celebration offering special events that provide rare access to learn about mid-century modern design, architecture, art, fashion, and culture..
- We thanked our loyal volunteers by hosting a reception at a historic home on North Broadway in their honor.
- We highlighted the architecture and the importance of historic preservation at a Saratoga Springs High School class.
SPRING 2020
- We efficiently adapted to working from home, remaining an advocate and a resource.
- We successfully reimagined the highly anticipated the signature event, the Historic Homes Tour Porch Party, as a virtual event. Since the Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, the event has been viewed over 8,300 times by people across the country and as far as England!
- We participated in live-streamed Caffe Lena’s Lunch Hour Program, sharing about past and current work of the Foundation. Samantha’s interview has been viewed 1,500 times.
- We voiced concerns about the massive proposed new structure at 269 Broadway.
SUMMER 2020
- We safely hosted 12 sold-out Sunday Summer Strolls and three bike tours.
- We worked with our community partners and the City of Saratoga Springs to place picnic tables donated by the New York Racing Association in Congress Park to provide additional outdoor dining to help support local restaurants.
- We gave an exclusive virtual tour of the historic Saratoga Race Course on the morning of the Travers Stakes Day when no fans were allowed. The tour, viewed over 4,000 times, included several interviews including one with Jack Knowlton, the Operating Manager of Sackatoga Stables owner of Tiz the Law, winner of the 2020 Belmont & Travers Stakes.
- We assisted homeowners with projects and tax credit applications.
- We continued to do research for our Historic Building History & Plaque Program.
FALL 2020
- We safely hosted the first ever Autumn Stroll Series due to the popularity of the Summer Sunday Strolls.
- We gave a walking tour of the Saratoga Race Course for the Academy of Lifelong Learning.
- We honored Preservation Recognition Awards through videos on social media.
- We hosted two programs on Zoom and Facebook, “Hidden Histories” with Carol Godette and “Women’s Suffrage in Saratoga Springs” with Nancy Baird Brown.
- We were awarded a grant from the Saratoga Foundation to create a Realtor Education Class, which will be offered in 2021.
- We hosted an exclusive Virtual Holiday Homes Tour of two historic homes on Union Avenue with festive music from The McKrells, provided by Caffe Lena, and Cassandra Kubinski, which has been viewed over 150 times over two weekends.
- We strongly opposed the proposed demolition of 65 & 69 Phila Street, two properties intentionally neglected by their owners. In addition, the Foundation commented on over 40 different projects that were reviewed by the Design Review Commission over the past year.
- We highlighted the architecture, history, and historic preservation throughout the year in 11 articles in Simply Saratoga Magazine and The Saratogian.
The Foundation endured a challenging year and are hopeful about all we can accomplish in 2021.
Enjoy the Foundation’s virtual programs any time on the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation YouTube or at “News” on our website.
If you would still like to support the Annual Appeal Campaign you can still give at any time on our website at www.saratogapreservation.org or by phone at (518) 587-5030.