The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is disappointed with the Appellate Court decision that upheld the December 5, 2012 decision of the Design Review Commission (DRC) to permit the demolition of the Winans-Crippen house at 66 Franklin Street. While the Foundation hoped to see this historic building preserved, the Foundation’s main purpose for seeking an appeal was to protect the intent and purpose of the Historic Review Ordinance.
Chris Armer, President of the Foundation, said, “We felt strongly that the DRC failed to follow the intent and requirements of the historic review ordinance. Unfortunately, this decision undermines the spirit of the ordinance and jeopardizes other historic buildings in Saratoga Springs.”
Samantha Bosshart, the Foundation’s Executive Director, said, “Fortunately the recent amendments to the Historic Review Ordinance that the City adopted in September 2012 addressed some of the deficiencies of the previous ordinance and provide greater clarity to the demolition criteria that the DRC must follow. However, it is clear that further work must be done to reinforce the intent and the requirements of the revised ordinance since the recent decision undermines the intent and requirement of a post-demolition plan.
She added, “The Foundation is hopeful that with City of Saratoga Springs’ recent adoption of a Vacant Building Registry, which requires an owner of a vacant building to register their building and meet the New York State Property Maintenance Codes, will not allow owners to neglect the condition of buildings to the point where demolition is considered the only option.”
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation sincerely thanks George Carpinello of Boies, Schiller and Flexner and Joan Walter for their donated expertise, time, and resources towards this effort.
Founded in 1977, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that promotes preservation and enhancement of the architectural, cultural and landscaped heritage of Saratoga Springs.