SARATOGA SPRINGS – An eyesore that stood for decades on Putnam Street was demolished Monday afternoon. In its place will rise a five-story mixed-use building with plans calling for a restaurant at the street level and approximately two-dozen condominium apartments upstairs.

“Everyone I know has loathed that building for decades,” said Jason Letts, shortly after a massive excavator, boasting more than 80,000 lbs. of operating weight, extended its 20-foot boom and clawed at the architecture, laying to waste the last wall standing and leaving a debris field comprised of twisted metal and broken bricks, splintered wood and chunks of concrete.     

“Before I got involved with this, whenever I’d take my son to the library (across the street) I’d think: somebody’s got to do something about that, so I’m glad to be doing something about it,” said Letts, one of the co-owners of the proposed “Five-Three” development that will be located at 53 Putnam St., opposite the Saratoga Springs Public Library. 

The initial intent was to revamp the existing two-story building and create a performance venue with a food service component. Those plans changed after the site was revealed to be contaminated from its earlier use as a dry clean facility as well as sustaining oil contamination from an offsite source.

“When we learned about all the environmental conditions, it wasn’t feasible,” Letts said. “The building had asbestos and was completely dilapidated. It had to go. The next step is removing five feet of soil, and also some oil.”

Environmental remediation is being conducted via the state’s Brownfield Cleanup Program –an alternative to greenfield development and intended to remove some of the barriers to, and provide tax incentives for, the redevelopment of urban brownfields.

Late in 2018, the group proposed the development of a six-story building featuring 40 condominium units in the $400,000 to $800,000 price range topped by a roof deck, pergola and a stair tower – which would top-off at 84 feet above ground-level.

Those plans have since been scaled back to a proposal of four floors and a partial “setback” fifth floor, Letts said. The number of condo units has also been amended to about 23 apartments in all. The price point will stay the same as initially proposed.

Earlier plans for a ground floor communal-type kitchen have also been amended and will instead likely feature a restaurant. Letts said there is strong interest from Capital Region based restaurants seeking to move into Saratoga.

The group is currently responding to some unresolved questions posed by the city’s Land Use boards, but the hope is that approvals will be secured in short order.

“We’re hoping to really get going in the fall. From that point, our construction manager is talking about an 18-month construction period,” Letts said. There are no plans for on-site parking. “That’s something we’re still working out,” he added. “We’re excited about making our city cleaner and more vibrant and we think this will be a big revitalization to some of the slightly off-Broadway areas.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – The development of a new, multi-story parking structure adjacent to the City Center could begin as early as this summer. The structure would provide spaces for about 600 vehicles and could be fully operational by the summer of 2020.

“As far as design goes, a building permit in June would be great. That’s what we’re pushing towards,” said Ryan McMahon, who joined the staff of the City Center in 2011 as the operations manager before taking over as executive director in 2017.

The development of the parking facility, located on city-owned land between Maple and High Rock avenues, would mark the first use of a multi-phase project that could see the development of the entire 2.6-acre parcel of land extending to Lake Avenue, behind City Hall. Discussions about potential uses regarding the development of that particular stretch of land have been ongoing for several years, and through many different City Hall administrations.

On Thursday, March 21, the Design Review Commission and the Planning Board will stage a joint meeting to hear a presentation from the LA Group regarding details of the Flat Rock Centre Parking Structure. The public meeting will take place 5:30 p.m. at the City Recreation Center, 15 Vanderbilt Ave. 

An initial concept plan was publicly unveiled late last year.  “We’ve narrowed down what we’re working on, and it’s in the same mold as the concept drawings the LA Group did for the city,” McMahon said. “While one structure overall, it’s going to have different looks and feels to it, so it will look like multiple structures, multiple types of architecture from the outside. There are sections that are conventional, sections that are more glass, and sections – while it’s not really the right term - of what I call a brownstone look.” 

In May 2018, city Mayor Meg Kelly created the Flat Rock Working Group – comprised of area residents, City Center Authority representatives, county leaders, city officials and other community members – who were tasked with developing a Concept Plan for the 2.6-acre parcel. Last November, members of the City Council unanimously agreed to a resolution regarding the Flat Rock Centre Concept Plan.

That Concept Plan includes: the establishment of a public park at the south end of the parcel along Lake Avenue; the continuation of the park at the easterly side of the parcel along High Rock Avenue, which will connect Flat Rock Park to High Rock Park and include the Greenbelt trail, Downtown Connector; and the development of a municipal parking structure.

The design and development of the Greenbelt Trail, Downtown Connector, and a municipal parking structure were identified as a priority to be included in Phase One of the project’s development. 

The City Council also recommended the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority proceed with design proposals for the municipal parking structure, albeit with a number of parking spaces reduced from the 754 originally proposed.  

The updated plan calls for “600-ish parking spaces,” said McMahon said, with the height of the structure being four to five levels. Currently there is no retail space dedicated, but approximately 70 percent of the structure is “flat” – that is, having level decks, which offers the possibility of an altered usage for the structure should the future usher in the age of autonomous vehicles, coach lobby roundabouts, and VIP rideshares.

“If the time came where there were not as many cars coming to conventions, it could be repurposed,” said McMahon, adding that there are existing communities that have already repurposed former parking garages into shopping areas and condominiums.

The 600 or so new spaces in the parking structure would be designated “paid” parking spots. Motorists’ costs to park have not yet been decided. Eliminated would be more than 200 “free” parking spots on the current paved lot, where the future structure will stand. That paved lot holds 277 spaces in all.

“As of late spring or early summer this year, the city is probably going to be losing a large number of parking spaces because of the construction that’s going to go on for the City Center garage, the Flat Rock lot,” Public Safety Commissioner Peter Martin informed the City Council last week.  Martin said his department will soon suggest changes to the existing time limits of other existing spaces “to accommodate our merchants and to take into account that we’re losing 210 spaces for a period of approximately one year.”       

There are currently about 1,300 spaces of public on-street parking and 1,480 public off-street parking spaces in the city, including lots and decks, according to a city-issued request for proposals in 2018.

“Starting doesn’t mean you immediately tear up the whole thing; it could be sectional work,” McMahon said. “There’s never going to be an ideal time, we’re busy year-round now, it’s not just the summer place to be (anymore). We’re working on some alternative parking places with some shuttles.” The duration of construction would take approximately 10 months, he added, while persuing designs for the proposed structure at his office this week.       

The City Center will be funding the structure, its specified level of ownership not yet decided, although a land-lease arrangement with the city maintaining ownership of the land is a likely scenario. The total cost is likely to be higher than the estimated $11 million price tag of a standalone parking garage the City Center had previously explored. 

“The biggest thing about the financing is that this will be something that is built without local taxpayer money going into it. This is not going to be raising anyone’s property tax. And it will be maintained by the City Center – plowing, salting and upkeep,” McMahon said.  

The City Center Authority has long stated it needs additional parking for its venue to remain competitive with other regions in drawing visiting tourists for conventions and other events. McMahon said the lack of parking has already cost the center millions of dollars. The hope is that a parking structure could be fully operational by the summer of 2020.

Flat Rock Centre Parking Structure aside, Phase II of the overall project - which stretches to the southern end of the parcel closest to Lake Avenue - will look to increase and reconfigure the public park and green space. City Mayor Kelly said she will seek to reconvene the Flat Rock Working Group in the future to address Phase II of the project, although there is no specific timeline as to when that group will get back together.   

SARATOGA SPRINGS - The Saratoga Springs Democratic Committee announced its

candidate endorsements for city office in 2019.

The SSDC endorsed all four Democratic incumbents running for re-election: Meg Kelly, Mayor; Michele Madigan, Finance Commissioner; John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts; and Tara Gaston, County Supervisor.

The SSDC also voted to endorse one of its members, Dillon Moran, for Commissioner of Public Works. “Dillon’s engineering education, business background and close study of the City’s infrastructure and operations all form a solid basis for our support,” SSDC Chair Courtney DeLeonardis said, in a statement.

For Public Safety Commissioner, where the Democratic incumbent is not seeking re-election, the Committee decided not to endorse at this time.

“We heard from two strong, well-qualified candidates – Eileen Finneran and Kendall Hicks -- who each impressed Committee members,” DeLeonardis said. “Both individuals have a lot to offer the City. I believe Committee members, along with other supporters, will help both candidates qualify for the primary election in June, when voters will decide who runs for Public Safety Commissioner on the Democratic line in the fall.”

City Republicans will meet Tuesday and subsequently announce their endorsements for 2019,  GOP chair Matt Hogan said Monday.

Primaries will take place June 25, and the General Election on Nov. 5. All five City Council seats and both city Supervisor seats are up for election this year. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS – An international resort company with a stated mission to “dream big” is eyeing the Spa City as a place to potentially develop its latest luxury hotel.   

Hoshino Resorts, which operates 37 facilities both in and outside Japan, operates four distinct brands: luxury flagships, hot spring resorts, resort hotels, and city tourism hotels, featuring venues which vary from countrified mountainside resorts to the heart of big-city Tokyo. The company entered into a Memorandum of Agreement of Sale in September as purchaser regarding two parcels of land totaling nearly 87 acres, located just south of Saratoga Spa State Park. A “deed agreement” was filed with the Saratoga County Clerk’s Office on Oct. 3.    

According to the company’s literature, Hoshino Resorts provides “a unique experience focused on the local charms of each destination and a high level of omotenashi Japanese-style hospitality.”

Hoshino Resorts was first established as a traditional Japanese inn in 1914. Today, the hotel management company is run by 4th-generation family member Yoshiharu Hoshino.

The company was formerly known as Hoshino Onsen Co., Ltd. and changed its name to Hoshino Resorts Inc. in 1995, and is based in Kitasaku, Japan, according to Bloomberg.com. An Albany-based attorney representing Hoshino Resorts did not return a phone message requesting information for this story. 

The memorandum of agreement notes two specific parcels: 6.88 acres at Route 9 and Columbia Avenue, and 79.34 acres at 38 Columbia Avenue. The lands are located in a mostly wooded area, just south of the Saratoga Spa State Park and East West Road, just off Route 9. According to the document, the closing and transfer of title is slated to potentially take place within 30 days of the end of the due diligence period, specified as Nov. 1, 2020. Hoshino has the exclusive right to purchase the properties under the agreement. 

Specific plans for the type of development under consideration for development in Saratoga Springs are not known.

Bradley Birge, the city’s administrator of planning and economic development, said formal applications that would signal the potential start of a project – such as a building permit - have yet to be filed with any of the city’s Land Use boards. Salomone and Company – a limited liability company with offices in New York City, is listed as the “seller” of the properties, according to the memorandum of agreement of sale. 

Steven Salomone, whose grandfather Saverio Salomone purchased the property in the 1940s, was unable to confirm or deny anything relative to a potential transaction. He does remember visiting the property as a young man.    

“When I was kid, we would go up there every summer,” recalled Steven Salomone, who is 64 years old. “I remember the State Park being next door. That was exciting to us. There is a small pond or lake on the property towards the back and when it would freeze, Saverio would go out and chop the ice and sell it.  He was apparently running a pretty good business doing that,” Salomone says, with a laugh. “Back in the day people were still using ice boxes up there. I think they used to call it the Ice Lake.”   

In 1949, Saverio was granted Zoning Board approval to erect six cabins off Columbia Ave., according to city records.

“Buying land in Saratoga to my grandfather, it was like buying farmland,” Salomone says. “You know he was an Italian immigrant and owning land was something that was important; having land in the county was important to them. My grandfather and grandmother also put a small hotel up – not a hotel by today’s standards, but they had rooms they would rent out. It was called the Salomone Motel and when the racetrack was busy and people were looking to rent anything that was possible, we used to have people stay in the rooms.” 

As the grandparents got older, the property was used less frequently. The bungalows eventually came down and a main house, which had been rented out, has been dormant for the past handful of years, Salomone says.