HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250533 26 Finley St Site Plan Public Comment (7)Outlook
Proposed Finley St Project
From Caitlin West <caitlinowest@gmail.com>
Date Thu 7/31/2025 1:06 PM
To Mark Graham <Mark.Graham@saratoga-springs.org>
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To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to voice my strong opposition to the proposed RISE housing development in our
neighborhood.
I understand this project has passed through the Design Review Board, and I am frankly shocked that
the absence of public comment during a single meeting has been interpreted as community support.
That assumption reflects a disturbing lack of respect for the residents who live here—residents with
jobs, children, and responsibilities that make last-minute meetings nearly impossible to attend.
Beyond the mishandling of community outreach, let me be absolutely clear: this development is not
appropriate for our neighborhood. The RISE project raises several serious concerns for our community:
Safety and Security
Placing a high-density mental health housing facility in a residential area full of young families raises
serious safety questions—especially when no clear information has been provided about the
population to be served, the level of supervision, or whether individuals with criminal histories will be
housed here. Our neighborhood is already burdened by the "temporary" 24/7 low-barrier shelter,
several "temporary" Code Blue sites, a proposed permanent Code Blue facility, and the county mental
health clinic. At what point do our safety and quality of life become a priority?
Impact on Property Values
This is an unfair and damaging burden to place on homeowners who have poured their time, money,
and effort into building a safe, stable, and welcoming community. These repeated projects—often
introduced with minimal notice and labeled “temporary”—have become a pattern. If you are not
aware, our neighborhood currently houses the existing RISE building (with a 3.5 million dollar face lift),
the Saratoga County Mental Health Clinic, a 24/7 low barrier shelter, and Code Blue (that is also being
proposed to have a permanent location on Ballston Ave) to name a few. How many more are we
expected to absorb?
Lack of Transparency
This entire process has been marked by a glaring lack of transparency and public engagement.
7/31/25, 3:00 PM Mail - Mark Graham - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGIxYTcxODdiLTE4ZmUtNDdlMy05MTNlLTA4ZjY5NTFhMDAzMQAQABn0WGduqhBFuhXFIxQmR0…1/2
Residents were never consulted before the announcement was made. A few neighbors received a flier
notifying them that the existing building will be torn down and that was that. We deserve to be active
participants in decisions that directly impact our homes, our lives, and our neighborhood—not
recipients of pre-determined outcomes announced with little to no warning such as RISE offering a
"community meeting" that was announced the day before (if you checked your mailbox).
Better Alternatives Exist
We are not against mental health support or transitional housing. These services are critical and should
be supported. But they should be placed in areas that are properly zoned and better equipped to
handle them. With the level of funding allocated for this project, it is entirely feasible to explore
alternative locations that would minimize the disruption to stable, residential neighborhoods while
offering this population the services they require.
This is our community. We are not against helping people—we are against having decisions forced
upon us without transparency, without dialogue, and without respect.
I strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal. With the resources available, better options exist. It’s
time to find them—before yet another part of our community is sacrificed.
I hope to be able to attend tonight’s meeting so the Planning Board does not also mistake low
attendance for support. As with the Design Review Board, a lack of voices in the room does not equal
a green light to move forward—it often reflects the difficult reality of residents juggling full-time jobs,
families, and other obligations.
Thank you,
Caitlin West
7/31/25, 3:00 PM Mail - Mark Graham - Outlook
https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox/id/AAQkAGIxYTcxODdiLTE4ZmUtNDdlMy05MTNlLTA4ZjY5NTFhMDAzMQAQABn0WGduqhBFuhXFIxQmR0…2/2