HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230043 69 Van Dam Exterior Modifications SSPFBoard of Directors
Michele M. Funiciello
President
Sheila Sperling
Vice President
Linda L. Harvey
Secretary
Stephen Kyne
Treasurer
Tiffany Blair
Steven Dodds
Giovanna D’Orazio
Julia Dunn
Adam N. Favro
John Haller
Leigh Hornbeck
Vincent LaTerra
Patty Morrison
Samantha Nass
Dorothy Rogers-Bullis
Jason Thomas
Maddy Zanetti
James Kettlewell
emeritus
Staff
Samantha Bosshart
Executive Director
Nicole Babie
Membership & Programs
Director
Patricia Herrick
Bookkeeper
March 14, 2023
Ms. Tamie Ehinger, Chair
Design Review Board
City Hall
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
RE: 69 Van Dam Street – Exterior Alterations & New Construction
Dear Tamie:
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation reviewed the additional information
for the exterior alternations at 69 Van Dam Street.
As previously stated, the house at 69 Van Dam Street may be the oldest structure
in Saratoga Springs and is a contributing building to the West Side Historic District
listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is in an Architectural Review
District.
After reviewing the recently submitted site plan and upon closer review of the
proposed plans for the garage, the Foundation has concerns about the scale, mass,
and siting of the garage as proposed and requests that the following Historic District
Design Guidelines for New Construction – Accessory Buildings be considered:
A secondary/accessory building should be distinct from, and smaller in
scale than, the primary structure.
While the shape, mass and scale of a secondary/accessory structure should
generally reflect the primary structure, it should not compete with the
primary structure.
The placement of accessory structures should be consistent with other
secondary structures in the neighboring area.
Accessory buildings and garages should reflect a secondary use and should
not compete with the primary façade of the building. Placement towards
the rear of the property is preferred.
If available, garage access is recommended to be from an alley or secondary
street.
Building materials should be the same as, or complement, the primary
structure.
An attached garage is appropriate for a suburban setting, not the West Side Historic
District. Carriage houses and garages in the West Side Historic District are separate
accessory structures. The proposed garage addition is highly visible and visually
competes with the primary structure.
The Foundation recommends that the garage be a separate accessory structure and
moved closer to the alley. This would allow for the primary structure to retain its
visual prominence and be in-keeping with the neighborhood. 112 Spring Street, Suite 203
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 587-5030
www.saratogapreservation.org
The Foundation concurs with the February 27, 2023 condition assessment by
Robert DeBoff, Vice Chair of the Design Review stating that the doors and
windows are not beyond repair. The Foundation continues to feel that those
significant character-defining features and others should be repaired in-kind and
only replaced with in-kind materials when beyond reasonable repair.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Michele Funiciello Samantha Bosshart
President Executive Director
Cc: Caitlin Cucchiella, Applicant
Amanda Tucker, Senior Planner, Office of Planning & Economic Development