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Home My WebLink About20250456 65 Phila St Area Variance Public Comment (2)Board of Directors Michele M. Funiciello President Christopher Armer Vice President Linda L. Harvey Secretary Stephen Kyne Treasurer Andrew Bauch Tiffany Blair Molly Brindle Joseph DeLeva Steven Dodds Giovanna D’Orazio James Gold John Haller Alex Kammler Vincent LaTerra Samantha Nass Michelle Paquette-Deuel Sheila Sperling Jason Thomas Roger Woody James Kettlewell emeritus Staff Samantha Bosshart Executive Director Dianne Winter Development Director Sydney Hedge Preservation & Programs Coordinator Marcy Dreimiller Historic Homes Tour Coordinator Stephanie Hadley Administrative Assistant Patricia Herrick Bookkeeper June 23, 2025 Mr. Gage Simpson, Chair Zoning Board of Appeals City Hall 474 Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 RE: 65 Phila Street – Area Variance for an addition to an existing single-family residence and a detached garage in the Urban Residential - 4 (UR-4) District. Dear Gage, H. Case Simpson and Helen C. Simpson, later Helen Case LLC, purchased 69 Phila Street in 1994 for $41,000 and 65 Phila Street in 2002 for $125,000. In 1998, the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation established its endangered buildings list, “Ten to Save.” The vacant, derelict properties at 65 and 69 Phila Street were nominated at inception to raise awareness of the need to preserve these two structures and not allow demolition by neglect. Both properties are contributing buildings of the East Side Historic District listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The brick Italianate house at 69 Phila Street was built circa 1851 by Robert Hunter, a mason, and his wife Helen and later the longtime residence of Reverand Hawley, who established the Hawley House, an orphanage. The wood clapboard Italianate house at 65 Phila Street was built by Alexander A. Patterson, a builder, architect, and owner of Patterson Spring. Both homes later became Jewish boarding houses. Under the Simpsons’ ownership, both buildings fell into significant disrepair. Over time, the owners were required by court order to remove rear portions of the buildings because they posed a public safety threat and were a blight to the neighborhood. See attached maps that show rear extensions that were removed over the years. In August 2020, after years of protracted enforcement actions between the City of Saratoga Springs and the owners, the city court ordered the owners to either repair the buildings or seek permission from the Design Review Board (DRB) to demolish them. In November 2020, applications to demolish both structures were submitted to the DRB. The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation with widespread community support strongly opposed the proposed demolitions. In March 2021, the owners withdrew the application to demolish 69 Phila Street and sold it to Rachel Ferluge and Joe DeLeva, who lovingly preserved the residence. That same month that the owners withdrew the application to demolish 69 Phila Street, the DRB unanimously denied the application to demolish 65 Phila Street. In May 2021, the Foundation purchased 65 Phila Street and undertook a three-year capital campaign to raise the necessary funds to complete environmental remediation, make necessary structural repairs, replace the roofs, and restore the exterior. 112 Spring Street, Suite 203 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (518) 587-5030 www.saratogapreservation.org Beyond preserving the architecture and history of the building and removing challenges for future owners, the Foundation sought to remove the long-standing blight to the neighborhood and prevent the property from being a further drain on the city’s resources. Once sold, the new property owner will complete the interior and be a good steward of the home, and increase property tax revenue to the city, thereby providing important support for police, fire, schools, and infrastructure improvements. The property was listed on the market in May of last year. There were several interested parties, but they did not want to agree to the terms of the preservation covenant that the Foundation has placed on the property to ensure its long-term preservation. The current buyers have hired Matt Hurff of Frost Hurff Architects who has designed an addition and garage that is in keeping with the style of the house. The Foundation’s Historic Properties Committee, Advocacy Committee, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors reviewed the proposed plans and finds the lot coverage area variance minimal and supports the variance as well as the proposed design of the addition and garage. The Foundation looks forward to the new owners completing the interior and using the net proceeds from the sale of this property to undertake our next preservation project, 128-130 Clinton Street. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of the buyers’ request. Sincerely, Michele M. Funicello Samantha Bosshart President Executive Director Cc: Matt Hurff, Frost Hurff Architects, Architect Patricia & Christopher Hays, Applicant Susan Barden, Administrator of OPED 1852 Bevan Map 1866 Beers Atlas 1876 Beers & Cramer Atlas 1888 Burleigh Bird's Eye View 1884 Sanborn Map, Page 10 1889 Sanborn Map, Page 10 1895 Sanborn Map 1900 Sanborn Map 1900 Corrected 1950 Sanborn Map 1900 Corrected 1948 Sanborn Map 1900 Corrected 1972 Sanborn Map