Each year in May, as part of National Historic Preservation Month, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation recognizes those who have preserved the architectural heritage of Saratoga Springs. Award recipients were honored at a public ceremony with Mayor Scott Johnson on Thursday, May 31, 2012, 5PM at City Hall, Council Chambers. A reception followed the ceremony for award winners, their family, friends, architects, builders, and contractors at the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation’s office at the former School No. 4 building at 112 Spring Street.
Categories for this year’s awards included: Restoration, Exterior Rehabilitation, Façade Exterior Initiative, Paint Initiative, Porch Restoration, Window Initiative, Landscape Initiative, New Contextual Design.
The City of Saratoga Springs is received a Restoration Award for their restoration of the stairs and sidewalk of the historic Canfield Casino in Congress Park.  The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation; Saratoga – Capital District Regional Parks Commission; and the Friends of Saratoga SPA State Park received an award for their restoration work on the Vale of Springs and Pavilions.
Exterior Rehabilitation Awards were awarded to Susan and Nicholas Washco, 72 Court Street; Carrie Hansen and Bruce Dick, 24 Fifth Avenue; and Mary and Dan Cogan, 165 West Circular Street. Jim and Gretchen Squires of Schrade’s Posie Peddler received an Adaptive Reuse Award for 92 West Avenue.  They retained much of the school’s original character, including the original chalkboard, and completed a sensitive adaptive reuse of the historic school building into a flower shop.
Exterior Façade Initiative Awards went to Mark Bettinger & Julie Rodgers, 15 George Street; Justin Hogan, 31 Warren Street; The Martell Brothers, 379 Broadway.  Tom Gardner and Mark Straus of Historic Saratoga Restorations received two awards, a Paint Initiative Award for 440-446 Broadway and a Window Initiative for 440 Broadway, where they retained the original historic wood sashes and inserted double pane glass for greater energy efficiency rather than replacing the windows.  Beverly Black also received a Window Initiative Award for installing new wood storm windows at 65 Ludlow.
A Porch Restoration Award went to Peter Davis & Ms. Beverly Lazar-Davis for their restoration of the original 1871 porch at 28 George Street.
New Contextual Design Awards were given to Beth and Jasper Alexander, 199 East Avenue; Sara and Bentley Boivin, 129 Nelson Avenue; Thomas J. Cole and Anne McCabe, 220 Caroline Street; Evelyn and Kenneth Hefner, 127 Circular Street; Kristine and Philip Reynolds, 179 Spring Street; Anne and Ethan Winter, 148 East Avenue.
Landscape Initiative Awards were given to Skidmore College for restoring 800’dry laid stone wall along 4th Street and Woodlawn Avenue and to Cheryl and Jim Gold for their dry laid stone wall that replaced a chain link fence at 199 Woodlawn Avenue.
To be considered for nomination next year by the Saratoga Springs Preservation Awards Committee, projects must meet the following criteria and considerations; must be located in the City of Saratoga Springs; but was not necessarily located in a historic district, must speak to design sensitivity and to the historic character and environment of the property; project execution must represent appropriate techniques and preservation practices; also considered is the degree of difficulty faced and appropriateness of solutions applied. Projects may include exteriors of private property and interiors or exteriors of public spaces.  Projects must be applied to homes 50 years or older. Projects may range from small to large, and include restorations and new construction projects.  All nominated projects must be completed between June 1, 2012 and May 1, 2013.