HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250934 167 Spring St. Exterior Modifications SSPFBoard of Directors
Christopher Armer
President
Sheila Sperling
Vice President
Tiffany Blair
Secretary
Kira Karbocus
Treasurer
Molly Brindle
Joseph DeLeva
Steven Dodds
Michele Funiciello
James Gold
Alex Kammler
Stuart Kaufman
Vincent LaTerra
Nicole Messier-Marino
Samantha Nass
Michelle Paquette-Deuel
Ellen Sheehan
Jason Thomas
Roger Woody
James Kettlewell
emeritus
Staff
Samantha Bosshart
Executive Director
Dianne Winter
Development Director
Stephanie Hadley
Administrative Assistant
Patricia Herrick
October 29, 2025
Ms. Tamie Ehinger, Chair
Design Review Board
City Hall
474 Broadway
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
RE: 167 Spring Street – Garage Exterior Alterations
Dear Tamie,
The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation reviewed the application to make exterior
alterations to the garage at 167 Spring Street.
According to Sanborn Maps, the front-gable garage was built between 1926 and 1933. It
is a contributing building to the East Side Historic District listed on the National Register
of Historic Places.
Per the Windows and Doors Historic District Design Guidelines, “doors are among the
most significant character-defining features of a building. They help to identify the style
and period of the building. Every effort should be made to maintain and preserve these
important features.”
• Every effort should be made to preserve original or historic doors as well as the
associated functional and decorative features including door frames, sills, heads,
jambs and moldings. Do not alter/enclose important architectural features such as
existing sidelights or transoms.
• Deteriorated or missing pieces should be replicated with materials that match the
original.
• The location, size and shape of original or historic doorway openings should be
maintained
• Relocating or altering an original door opening is discouraged, particularly on a
primary façade.
• Replacement doors should match the existing in material and design or should be
based on historic evidence. If no historic evidence is available, the doors should
match the design and material of the architectural style and period of the historic
building.
• The addition of new door openings on primary facades is discouraged
• Contemporary materials and designs are discouraged on historic and contributing
structures.
The first overhead doors were invented in 1921, and the first electric overhead doors were
invented in 1926. The doors that are present may be original to the date of construction.
If not, they were added prior to 1950, making them historic.
112 Spring Street, Suite 203
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
(518) 587-5030
www.saratogapreservation.org
The Foundation does not support the removal of the doors and the proposed design to infill
the openings as it is not in keeping with the historic district design guidelines. The
proposed design gives the appearance of a storefront. Should the Design Review Board
approve the proposed changes to the doors, it respectfully requests that the owner be
required to store the historic doors on site so that if in the future there is an owner who
wants to have the structure serve as a garage again the doors can be reinstalled.
The Foundation also does not support replacing the roof with copper. It is not an
appropriate material for an accessory utilitarian structure. According to Sanborn Maps, the
roof was originally a shingle roof, however it does not indicate what material. The
Foundation recommends that the roof be replaced with a shingle roof.
Thank you in advance for your thoughtful consideration.
Sincerely,
Christoper Amer Samantha Bosshart
President Executive Director
Cc: Deborah Hayes Stone, Owner
Matt Hurff, Frost-Hurff Architects, Architects
Julia Destino, Planner, City of Saratoga Springs