Our city is fortunate to have such a diverse, extensive collection of historic resources that make our community special, many of which have been highlighted over the past year in these articles. Our historic downtown and neighborhoods are the destinations they are today because of the vision, commitment, effort, investment, and oversight of many over decades. This is not something we can take for granted as we look towards the future. Preserving our city’s special character will continue to take vision, commitment, effort, investment, and oversight by city officials and residents.
With the election only two days away, the Foundation thought it would be helpful to voters to know how the candidates view historic preservation. Please note that as a not-for-profit 501(c)3, the Foundation cannot endorse any particular candidate for elected office. Every candidate was contacted. Below are the verbatim answers received from candidates.
Do you think historic preservation is important to the economic success of our City? If so, why?
Shauna Sutton, Mayoral Candidate: Yes, historic preservation has played a large part in making Saratoga Springs a major destination, by helping to improve our economy with the establishment of businesses and jobs which in turn help support the needs of our visitors and residents. Visitors come from all over the world, visit our Visitor’s Center and enjoy our award winning vibrant downtown. They also come for the architecture of our restored public and private buildings and experience our famous mineral springs. Restoration and rehabilitation work also provides work opportunities for those skilled in more traditional trades.
Joanne Yepsen, Mayoral Candidate: Historic Preservation is key to Saratoga Springs’ economic vitality and our attractiveness to both tourists to visit and families and retirees to settle down here. The success of our thriving downtown is predicated on its being one of 7 historic districts, and the subsequent implementation of a Design Review process that has saved countless buildings, enhanced façades, and preserved a streetscape that is visually appealing and energetic. The other historic neighborhoods have seen similar improvements, including adaptive re-use.
John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Candidate: I know that historic preservation is important to the economic success of Saratoga Springs! Back in the 1970’s when the City was in a long decline economically, Mayor Raymond Watkin started the idea of the SSPF. By bringing back our wonderful historic buildings versus tearing them down, we were able to restore our downtown core. This was done by grants and façade easements allowing investors to afford restoring these beautiful buildings to their original character. I currently own two properties in the historic district. I also sat on the preservation board a decade ago and found it very rewarding.
Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance Candidate: Yes, the historic nature of our city buildings is one of the main reasons people visit Saratoga Springs making the city a destination tourist attraction. We have several historic neighborhoods and Broadway that lend to the culture of the city. Maintaining and protecting these neighborhoods is essential to the character of city.
Chris Mathiesen, Commissioner of Public Safety Candidate: Historic preservation is important to the economic success of our City. The nineteenth and early twentieth century architecture of many of our buildings is an important part of the charm, beauty and ambiance of our City. This is an important part of the success that Saratoga Springs enjoys as a convention and tourist destination.
Richard Wirth, Commissioner of Public Safety Candidate: Saratoga Springs has been world renowned through history, not only because of its waters but also because of the legacy of our racetrack. It is not an ordinary racetrack but one steeped in history and an era of enchantment, where today’s visitors can easily envision what life was like here 150 years ago at its inception. The preserved history of our buildings, parks, Broadway and racetracks is something that takes us all to a special place in time and without that link to history the charm would be lost. Not only is historic preservation important, it is vital, because it is the essence of Saratoga.
William McTygue, Commissioner of Public Works Candidate: Unquestionably, historic preservation is key to the Cityʼs future success. In many ways the preservation movement in Saratoga Springs has served to connect the current residents, new residents as well as native Saratogians, to our Cityʼs important and historic past. Evidence of our Cityʼs distinctive architectural evolution is spread throughout the community. The differing architecture alone, is symbolic of the attention to quality and detail that was once know as exclusive to Saratoga style. The historic character of our buildings and the significant public support to preserve pieces of our important past help define Saratoga Springs as the very special community it is and a place we all love.
Anthony “Skip” Scirocco, Commissioner of Public Works Candidate: Yes, I think many visitors that come to the City, come here to enjoy our historic buildings as well as the Saratoga Race Track and other Landmarks ie The Canfield Casino and beautiful Congress Park.
What do you think of the Historic Review Zoning Approval Process?
Sutton: We appreciate our partnership with members of the New York State Historic Preservation Office and the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation. We worked with both organizations quite often for the last few years while we were updating and reorganizing our zoning regulations. We received funding to update our guide documents and make them more user friendly. We streamlined the application process with input from staff and members of our Land Use Boards. We clarified and strengthened the demolition portion of the City’s ordinance. We also redesigned and updated the historic residential design guidelines. The City has a process that respects our City’s heritage without imposing extreme burdens on property owners.
Yepsen: I would suggest that from time to time it would be wise to review the HRZA process with an eye to up dating and streamlining the guidelines. While I think it has served us well over the long term, too many people seeking approvals complain about backlogs, delays and uneven enforcement. It would be helpful to both those who have to implement the guidelines and those who have to follow them, to have periodic updates, working toward a user-friendly format without sacrificing quality of life.
Franck: I BELIEVE IT’S VERY IMPORTANT TO FOLLOW THE HISTORIC REVIEW ZONING PROCESS. Short cuts on historic buildings can cause permanent damage to the buildings structurally and from an esthetic point of view.
Madigan: The city enacted the historic preservation ordinance in 1977, which covers several neighborhoods throughout the city, to project special historic and architectural characters of building from destruction, poor rehabilitation and new construction. A review process has been put in place to assist owners with changing needs of building maintenance, but to still allow for the original historic character of our city buildings. I think this is an excellent process and includes owners going before a design review commission and SSPF before moving forward on a project.
Mathiesen: The Historic Review zoning process is an important part of maintaining and protecting properties in our Historic Review District.
Wirth: Since the historic review process is essentially the means of carrying out our local Zoning Ordinance it is important to our success as a community. This process serves as a means to protect what we already have while simultaneously providing a means for us to achieve the ‘old Saratoga’ look to our landscape and surroundings as we build, rehabilitate and in-fill. Although we have many newer buildings, the historic review process has given us a blended look that pulls together new and old into the vibrant community we enjoy today.
McTygue: Like the Cityʼs other land use Boards (Planning and Zoning) the Design Review Commission (DRC) has an important role to play in overseeing building renovations and new construction within the Cityʼs designated historic districts. The DRCʼs primary function is to ensure compatibility with proposed changes in building features and or new construction. I support the mission of the Cityʼs Design Review process and credit much of the Cityʼs success to the standards set by the DRC as well as the important assistance provided by our own Preservation Foundation.
Scirocco: The new process now allow the Rules and Laws to be clarified therefore making them objectively clearer. It also allows residents to discuss any issues regarding any process of the Zoning and Planning of the Historic District.
What is your favorite historic building in the city?
Sutton: The Canfield Casino is my favorite building. The Casino is one of the first examples of success of historic preservation efforts in our City. The Casino houses the history museum in our historic Congress Park setting. The Casino is enjoyed by the public at community events as well as being available to rent for private functions which then in turn brings revenue to our City. As a native Saratogian I have attended countless, memorable events at the Casino.
Yepsen: One of my favorite buildings is the Drink Hall, originally built as a trolley station in 1915-16 in the classical Beaux-Arts style. Its edifice is handsome, its exterior decorative elements reflecting the history and culture of our area. Its extended wings are a warm and embracing architectural gesture. It’s so appropriate that it is now the home of the Heritage Area Program and Visitor Center.
Franck: Well this is a bias choice, but I must go with my office building (Moriata Building 1887) at 511 Broadway. It was one of R. Newton Brezee’s favorite buildings. He also was the Architect for the building that the SSPF uses for their offices.
Madigan: There are too many historic building and neighborhoods that I appreciate and enjoy in the city that it is difficult to pick one building. I love the mansions along Union Avenue, the Adirondack Trust Building on Broadway is fine example of a historic structure on Broadway and the homes that line Circular are stunning too. I enjoy the unique characters of the homes that line many of our neighborhood streets in the inner parts of the city.
Mathiesen: The Canfield Casino.
Wirth: The Canfield Casino. It encompasses a timeline of life in Saratoga Springs from its early use as a club house and gambling hall to its current use as a museum and beautiful event hall. It amazes me to think of the people from all walks of life that have found entertainment in this building and the wide spectrum it has covered: historic gambling, modern day weddings, and museum education. In addition, the building itself has significant architectural aspects that are some of the most beautiful in the city.
McTygue: I have a special fondness to the Canfield Casino in Congress Park. Primary to this Cityʼs historic past is the oldest portion of the building, the Clubhouse, built in 1870-1871 by John Morrissey. This portion of the building is the oldest and is currently known as the front parlor. Perhaps my special affection to this building is based in my own personal history. As a youngster, I remember visiting the Canfield Casino back in the 1950ʼs with my dad when he was Commissioner of Public Works. Similar to today, the Commissioner of Public Works was responsible for the oversight and maintenance of the Casino and Congress Park. Back in the 50ʼs, and before modern day restoration efforts took place, the building was without a central heating system and was only used seasonally. My special connection to this building continued through the 1970ʼs and 1980ʼs with the various stages of restoration that took place with the Cityʼs renewed focus on historic preservation. As a volunteer and amateur photographer, I had the privilege of photographing much of this early restoration effort.
Scirocco: The Canfield Casino
Do you think the recently enacted Vacant Building Registry Ordinance will help prevent Demolition-by-Neglect? If so, why?
Sutton: Yes, the registry will enable the City to be more pro-active and timely to intervene earlier than before, at a time when demolition can be avoided. Enforcement, however, remains the key to success, as with any code issue.
Yepsen: Yes, I fully support this ordinance as a first-step in strengthening our historic patrimony. It is an important piece of legislation that will need to be tweaked over the years, particularly in the area of enforcement and follow-up, but which holds the promise of helping to reduce the number of vacant and neglected buildings in town. The registry will allow the City to identify, track and monitor unoccupied buildings, conduct fire inspections and prevent structural neglect that leads to demolition.
Franck: It’s a relatively new ordinance so I believe we need to see if it’s effective or not.
Madigan: This is a new and welcomed ordinance. It is something that I will watch carefully to see how it impacts neighbors, and buildings and properties that are occasionally left neglected.
Mathiesen: The prime reason that I brought the Vacant Properties Registry Ordinance to the City Council was to discourage such things as demolition by neglect and deteriorating properties that adversely effect neighborhoods.
Wirth: This is a topic we all need to come to the table to discuss. There is a sensitive line that separates private property owners and other stakeholders in the community about what can and should be done to a property and what is enforceable. Through communication and discussion I think most of these issues can be resolved; sometimes it may require answers that are outside our usual toolbox of answers, but in my mind it is possible if every stakeholder feels free to express their view and has that opportunity at the table. We need to do more by working together and finding consensus.
McTygue: I believe the Cityʼs new Vacant Building Registry Ordinance will help prevent demolition by neglect. However, it will rely on the Cityʼs due-diligence in documenting and following through with property owners on potential building problems.
Scirocco: Yes, it will allow the proper authority to work with the property owner also it will maintain or repair the buildings as needed. Therefore the property can not be neglected and buildings can not be left in disrepair to deteriorate.
In addition to the current public-private partnership effort to preserve the Spirit of Life & Spencer Trask Memorial in Congress Park, what additional opportunities do you see to preserve other important historic properties in the city?
Sutton: We should build on the success of the Spirit of Life partnership by being more inclusive on future ventures, such as identifying and involving more community stakeholders. Such stakeholders should include The Chamber of Commerce, The Special Assessment District, the Downtown Business Association and the Convention and Tourism Bureau. Our Water Treatment plant located on Excelsior Avenue would be an excellent example of a City-owned building that could become a City landmark.
Yepsen: Several things come to mind. Certainly, re-establishing the urban forest canopy and tree-scape that defined Saratoga through the late 1800s is an important project, already underway but which will take many years to bring to full fruition. The preservation of our parks, such as Congress and High Rock, can always benefit from collaborative efforts. The City-owned Visitor Center with its interior and exterior murals and ‘romance’ map could also benefit from a private/public partnership. Already, the Heritage Garden Club has maintained an incredibly beautiful garden in the back patio for over a decade. For more than 30 years Broadway has benefited from a façade easement program, which now needs to be reinvigorated and expanded to preserve the award-winning uniqueness of our downtown.
Franck: If re-elected on November 5th , I would like to start to head up our Centennial celebrate for the City of Saratoga Springs. We became a City in 1915, previously we were a Village I believe. I think it would be a neat idea for the City to work with the SSPF to help designate a property for restoration that was built on or around 1915 and use it as a showcase for our 100th anniversary.
Madigan: The Beekman Street Art District is an area that comes to mind. This is a neighborhood that was once doing well in the city for the arts community. The great recession hit and this neighborhood was hit particularly hard. This district could use historic street lighting, building maintenance, etc. which could lead to better economic development for the neighborhood and the city.
Mathiesen: It is important for the City to follow the recommendations of the Saratoga Preservation Foundation and to seek grants whenever available to ensure that our historic structures can be experienced by future generations.
Wirth: In the past the Preservation Foundation has found areas within the city in disrepair and through creating partnerships with local volunteers has rehabilitated such projects as the Gideon Putnam cemetery, Beekman Street neighborhood, and others valuable places we might not have realized were here. It is important moving forward this effort continues and we bring new life into some of the hidden and historic pearls of this community. I’d like to see the Foundation create a running list of projects to tackle jointly with community volunteers because together we can always be improving and preserving.
McTygue: I firmly believe the combination of private fundraising, in combination with the Cityʼs funding commitments, represents the best way to enlist broad public support for important preservation initiatives. Additionally, I would encourage the City, in combination with the Preservation Foundation, to take full advantage of any funding and grant opportunities that may exist at the state and federal level.
Scirocco: I believe there could be another private – public partnership to preserve other historic properties. One other opportunity, I would like to pursue is the restoration of the Bell Clock Tower that once sat on the top of the roof on City Hall. “Wouldn’t that be great”.
(518) 587-5030
info@saratogapreservation.org
