Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation Inc

THE SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION PROMOTES THE PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT OF THE ARCHITECTURAL, CULTURAL, AND LANDSCAPED HERITAGE OF SARATOGA SPRINGS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, ADVOCACY, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND RESTORATION.

SARATOGA SPRINGS PRESERVATION FOUNDATION (SSPF) HAD THE FOLLOWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING FY 2020 -2021 (NOTE: COVID IMPACTED THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS REVIEWED, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED, AND PROGRAMS AND EVENTS OFFERED AND THE ATTENDANCE OF THOSE PROGRAMS). - CONTINUED TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH WITH THE RESTORATION OF THEIR MOST ENDANGERED STAINED GLASS WINDOWS. - PROVIDED COMMENTS ON CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS THE SARATOGA RACE COURSE, THE OLDEST EXTANT SPORTS VENUE IN THE COUNTRY, TO ENSURE THE UNIQUE CHARACTER IS RETAINED THROUGH A BALANCES APPROACH OF PRESERVATION AND MODERNIZATION.- HOSTED A VIRTUAL TRAVERS DAY TOUR OF THE SARATOGA RACE COURSE THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE TRACK AND FEATURED INTERVIEWS WITH MATT HURFF, THE PRESERVATION ARCHITECT FOR NEW YORK RACING ASSOCIATION (NYRA); DAVID O'ROURKE, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF NYRA; AND JACK KNOWLTON, MANAGER AND PART OWNER OF TIZ THE LAW, THE HORSE THAT WON THE 2020 TRAVERS STAKES RACE. THE TOUR HAS 4,200 VIEWS PEOPLE WATCHED FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING CALIFORNIA, KENTUCKY, FLORIDA, AND TEXAS. THE FOUNDATION ALSO PROVIDED A TOUR OF THE TRACK TO EMPIRE STATE COLLEGE ACADEMY OF LIFE LONG LEARNERS, ATTENDED BY 20 PEOPLE. - PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PROPERTY OWNERS, INCLUDING PROJECTS THAT TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL REHABILITATION TAX CREDIT PROGRAMS. - REVIEWED MORE THAN 50 PROJECTS AND PROVIDED 35 WRITTEN COMMENTS AND ADDITIONAL VERBAL COMMENTS TO VARIOUS LAND USE BOARDS TO ADVOCATE FOR BEST PRESERVATION PRACTICES, ENSURING THE HISTORIC CHARACTER OF OUR DOWNTOWN AND NEIGHBORHOODS IS RETAINED. - SUCCESSFULLY OPPOSED THE PROPOSED DEMOLITION OF 65 & 69 PHILA STREET, TWO LONG-NEGLECTED, HISTORIC PROPERTIES LOCATED IN THE EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRICT LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES THAT WERE LISTED ON THE FOUNDATION'S ENDANGERED PROPERTY LIST SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 1998. - PURCHASED 65 PHILA STREET TO UNDERTAKE A REHABILITATION OF THE BUILDING THAT WILL INCLUDE ENVIRONMENTAL ABATEMENT, STRUCTURAL ABATEMENT, NEW UTILITIES, AND AN EXTENSIVE EXTERIOR REHABILITATION. ONCE COMPLETED THE BUILDING WILL BE SOLD TO A NEW OWNER WHO WILL COMPLETE THE INTERIOR REHABILITATION. ANY PROCEEDS MADE WILL BENEFIT A FUTURE PRESERVATION PROJECT. - OFFERED 13 SUMMER SUNDAY STROLLS THAT WERE ATTENDED BY 314 PEOPLE. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTED THREE BIKE TOURS OF THE SPA STATE PARK, ATTENDED BY 47 PEOPLE, AND A TWILIGHT TOUR OF GREENRIDGE CEMETERY, ATTENDED BY 35 PEOPLE. - DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING SUCCESS OF THE 2020 SUMMER STROLL SERIES, THE FOUNDATION CREATED AN AUTUMN STROLL SERIES THAT FEATURED FOUR WALKING TOURS WITH 81 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE.- HOSTED A VIRTUAL HOLIDAY HOUSE TOUR THAT FEATURED TWO HISTORIC HOMES ON UNION AVENUE AND HOLIDAY MUSIC BY LOCAL MUSICIANS CASSANDRA KUBINSKI AND THE MCKRELLS AND WAS ATTENDED BY NEARLY 100 PEOPLE. - HOSTED, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PRESERVATION LEAGUE OF NEW YORK STATE, "ARCHITECTURALLY SPEAKING," A THREE-HOUR CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR REALTORS AND DESIGN PROFESSIONALS THAT REVIEWED ARCHITECTURAL STYLES, THE LOCAL REVIEW PROCESS, AVAILABLE REHABILITATION TAX PROGRAMS, AND FINANCING OPTIONS. THE PROGRAM WAS ATTENDED BY 70 AREA REALTORS AND DESIGN PROFESSIONALS.- GAVE VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS AND IN-PERSON TOURS ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE OF SARATOGA SPRINGS AND IMPORTANCE OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION TO STUDENTS OF SARATOGA SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL AND SUNY ALBANY.- SUCCESSFULLY REIMAGINED THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED THE SIGNATURE EVENT, THE HISTORIC HOMES TOUR, AS A VIRTUAL EVENT WITH A PROFESSIONALLY PRODUCED VIDEO OF SEVEN HISTORIC HOUSES IN SARATOGA SPRINGS. OVER 200 PEOPLE PURCHASED TICKETS TO VIEW THE LIMITED RELEASE VIDEO. AS PART OF THE HISTORIC HOMES TOUR EVENT THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTED AN IN-PERSON "REHABILITATION IN PROGRESS TOUR" OF THE 1903 LUDLOW HOUSE THAT WAS ATTENDED BY 60 PEOPLE AND HYBRID IN-PERSON/VIRTUAL "BREAKFAST & BUILDINGS AND "LUNCH & LEARN" PRESENTATIONS AT THE HISTORIC ANNE'S WASHINGTON INN THAT WERE ATTENDED 135 PEOPLE. THE FOUNDATION ALSO HOSTED THE IN-PERSON PORCH PARTY TO CELEBRATE THE SUCCESS OF THE HISTORIC HOMES TOUR. THE PARTY, ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 150 PEOPLE, FEATURED TWO PORCHES OF HISTORIC HOMES ON NORTH BROADWAY AND LIVE MUSIC BY A LOCAL MUSICIAN AND DRINKS AND LIGHT FARE. - HOSTED SEVERAL VIRTUAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS: TWO "HIDDEN HISTORIES" PRESENTATIONS BY CAROL GODETTE ATTENDED BY 175 PEOPLE; "WOMEN'S SUFFERAGE IN SARATOGA" BY NANCY BAIRD BROWN, ATTENDED BY 84 PEOPLE / 500 VIEWS; "SARATOGA'S BRANDTVILLE BLUES" BY CAROL DAGGS, ATTENDED BY 74 PEOPLE / 400 VIEWS, AND "TAKE A BITE OUT OF HISTORY: SARATOGA CHIP TO POTATO CHIP" BY ALAN RICHER, ATTENDED BY 47 PEOPLE. - CONTINUED TO MONITOR ENDANGERED BUILDINGS AND ADVOCATE FOR THEIR PRESERVATION.