HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250533 26 Finley St Site Plan Public Comment (11)2 g r- 4-1 Y/�_ &
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To: Governor Hochul,
Subject: Oversaturation of Government Supported Facilities
Date: 9/5/2025
My name is Donald Hughes; I'm retired from the Office for People with
Developmental Disabilities. Although I have held several positions throughout my
34piusyears of state service, I retired as the Associate Commissioner of Property
Supports and Emergency Management. I'm writing to you as a representative of my
community, Saratoga Estates in Saratoga Springs NY, a community of single -story
ranch style homes.
During my state career, I was very much involved in the closing of Developmental
Centers and moving Individuals into the community. Communities were not always
welcoming but many others were. OPWDD and OMH were adamant not to over
saturate a community. These were clear marching orders, and were adhered to
consistently.
Saratoga Estates and the surrounding neighborhoods are location in what is
considered South Broadway. In this little section of the city, we have a Code Blue
Shelter (75 beds), a proposed 125 Bed County Code Blue shelter, a Low Barrier
Homeless Shelter (35), Rise Headquarters with their new Psychosocial Day
programs, the Saratoga County Mental Health Center, AIM residential home for
disabilities, Shelters of Saratoga Office with 9 supportive housing units for the
homeless, and the proposed 71-unit Affordable Housing mental health residential
facility with an additional office building and playground "The Finley". All of the
above are located on Adelphi/Finley Street, Adelphi/ Finley Street is a street with
two names. From Rt 9 Broadway it's Adelphi Street and from RT 50 Ballston Ave it's
Finley Street. One street with two names. The entire street is less than .2 tenths of
a mile and is also the main truck route for all tractor trailers coming in and out of
the city.
This section of the city is and will be excessively saturated with these special
need's populations compromising the peace and security of this neighborhood. Our
neighborhoods have already been negatively impacted over the last three years due
to the homeless shelter located on Finley Street These proposed projects will only
exacerbate the dangerous environment that already exists. Police vehicles have been
responding to issues with these individuals twice a day every day according to the
mayor's office. Residents have been threatened, the streets of Saratoga have been
inundated with vagrant Individuals begging, panhandling and sleeping on sidewalks.
Most of which appear to be transients from outside the city and the state.
In addition, this proposal will destroy the modest but dense indigenous wooded
green space which currently provides a natural boarder between commercial and
residential properties. It will also destroy extensive wildlife inhabits. Destruction of
this wooded area will devastate the community and wildlife.
We acknowledge this development may provide some relief to the housing issue
but this location will be detrimental to this community. Housing although
important will not solve this problem.
There are many clear-cut commercial properties throughout the city which would
be better suited for this proposal. There are also many marketed properties that
can be repurposed for this proposal and less destructive to the community. They
would effectively be much less costly to develop. The site preparation at this
location "The Finley" requires extensive tree and root removal, significant elevation
variations will necessitate major regrading and the creation of retaining walls. The
essential site work will be extremely costly, but the damage to the community will
be devastating.
One last point, the massive Medicaid cuts starting after the mid -terms will
overwhelm these programs, how do they plan to manage, and who will pay the
price?
Please understand I recognize the essential need for housing but oversaturation as
clearly noted above in one area is unacceptable and conflicts with the mandates
OPWDD and OMH were compelled to observe. We're hoping you can assist in
minimizing the impact to our community.
Thank You for your time and consideration,
Donald Hughesshughesdon,6@gmail.com PH# 518-727-2213