HomeMy WebLinkAbout20230532 395 Broadway Two Story Addition SPFF 2023 11 01Board of Directors
Michele M. Funiciello
President
Sheila Sperling
Vice President
Linda L. Harvey
Secretary
Stephen Kyne
Treasurer
Christopher Armer
Tiffany Blair
Steven Dodds
Giovanna D’Orazio
Julia Dunn
James Gold
John Haller
Leigh Hornbeck
Vincent LaTerra
Patty Morrison
Samantha Nass
Michelle Paquette-Deuel
Dorothy Rogers-Bullis
Jason Thomas
Roger Woody
Maddy Zanetti
James Kettlewell
emeritus
Staff
Samantha Bosshart
Executive Director
Nicole Babie
Membership & Programs
Director
Marcy Dreimiller
Administrative Assistant
Patricia Herrick
Bookkeeper
November 1, 2023
Ms. Tamie Ehinger, Chair
Design Review Board
City Hall
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
RE: 395 Broadway – Exterior Alterations and Addition
Dear Tamie,
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation reviewed the recent submissions for the exterior
alterations and addition at 395 Broadway.
The Foundation has determined that the proposed design does not meet the Historic Review
Approval Standards, Design Considerations, and the Historic District Guidelines for new
construction.
Per the Historic Review Approval Standards, Compatible Contemporary Design: Contemporary
design for alterations and additions to existing properties may be encouraged provided it does
not destroy significant historical, architectural, or cultural material and is compatible with the
size, scale, color, material, and character of the site or surrounding neighborhood (underline
added for emphasis). Incompatible alterations shall be discouraged.
The color and overly ornate treatment of the terra cotta panels, steel railings, and cornice of the
addition are not in keeping with the materials and the restrained detailing of the existing building.
The proposed building lacks the overall design aesthetic continuity of the other buildings along
Broadway. Furthermore, the addition being one dark color gives the appearance of two distinct
buildings of nearly equal size being placed on top of one another, emphasizing the concerns
regarding mass and scale that the Foundation commented on in previous letters.
The existing building is not a historic building; therefore, the addition should not be differentiated
from the existing building. The Foundation continues to strongly advocate for greater continuity
between the existing building and the addition and greater compatibility with the streetscape.
The Foundation also continues to advocate for a window rhythm and fenestration of the proposed
addition to complement the window and door sizes, patterns, and rhythms of neighboring
buildings.
Understanding that the Design Review Board has already granted approval for mass and scale,
the Foundation again expresses its significant concerns with the number of variations of setbacks
of the proposed addition. The addition is asymmetrical and complex unlike any other building
on Broadway. This is an extreme difference and a significant interruption to the overall
streetscape.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Michele Funiciello Samantha Bosshart
President Executive Director
Cc: Lisa Moser, Owner
Brett Balzer, Balzer & Tuck Architecture
Amanda Tucker, Senior Planner, City of Saratoga Springs 112 Spring Street, Suite 203
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 587-5030
www.saratogapreservation.org