HomeMy WebLinkAbout20190524 The Grove Corr 7-2-19 Residents of The Grove E 11
233 Lake Avenue JUL
2019
Saratoga Springs, N .Y. 12866 Sy
Mayor Meg Kelly (and City Council Members)
474 Broadway
Saratoga springs, N .Y. 12866
Dear Mayor Kelly and City Council members.
We, the residents of the original building of the Grove at Neumann, are writing in response to the recent
announcement by the owners/managers of our property that they have received approval to add nine
new apartments to our existing building. We understand that this construction will commence in
September and will last well into 2020. There were no preliminary announcements or meetings that
might have given us a warning that such plans were in the works . We are contacting you now to let you
know of our displeasure and to request that there be a reconsideration of the approval for these
additions to The Grove.
The new construction was presented to us as the best way to overcome problems with the leaking of
the extensive flat roof through the winter months. It is difficult to understand why the management
company doesn't simply make the necessary repairs to the roof. By doing the proposed construction,
the " floor hall ways will be deprived of the light from the windows on the north side of the building
which make the second floor hallway beautiful and airy and sunny a joy to the residents who do not
have outside spaces. Furthermore, the noise, the construction mess, the use of the entrances which
are in close proximity to bedrooms all create problems for those of us who have made this our home. It
could be argued that the construction will only occur through the week and not on weekends or
evenings. However, most of the residents here are retirees who are here through the day. Of further
concern is the fact that nine new apartments is a 10% increase to the population and will add to the
burden of a water and septic system which already appears to be fragile.
While we recognize that, as renters, there was no legal requirement to consult us as to the plans for the
building, we also would ask that the management and the city recognize that this has been a unique and
different rental complex since its inception . The Grove is more of a community than most rental
complexes and as such, it might have been good community relations to give us some advance notice of
the concept. We find ourselves wondering whether the new apartments fit into the original variance
required for this building and question the wisdom of replacing a problematic flat roof with another flat
roof, as well as whether these new additions will over tax our septic system . Additionally, we wonder
why the city did not require public hearings on this addition to a historical building. in short, as
residents of this amazing building, we object strenuously to the licensing of these additional apartments
and request that the city reconsider its decision .