READY TO RENT
Gideon Putnam reopens after water main break, renovations
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.
» The Gideon Putnam reopened Tuesday following renovations after a January water main break that filled the basement with 11feet of water.
Delaware North, the operator of the hotel for the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, utilized the hotel being closed due to the flood damage to do a variety of renovations. The work was originally set to take place in phases over the next several years.
“Whenever you have a water main break in a building, obviously it’s devastating. This one particularly so because it actually flooded the building, so it ruined the entire infrastructure. It gets devastating not only for us as a business, but it’s especially devastating for the staff,” said Paul Jeppson, east regional vice president of Delaware North’s park and resorts business. “To see this be able to be re-built, all of the stuff repaired, to bring on new renovations and bring the staff back on; it’s going to be great for the staff and great for the guests that are going to come to the Gideon Putnam.”
Jeppson provided a tour of the basement, locating exactly where the main break happened Jan. 15. The hotel’s basement had four boilers, but now they have two that Jeppson called “more efficient.”
Last month Jeppson explained the process Delaware North took to make the changes.
“We had to pump out hundreds of thousands of
gallons of water and clear areas of the basement that were covered in over 2 feet of mud. It took time to assess the true scope of the damage to the utilities and infrastructure and how long it would take to replace the boilers, electrical switch gear and other components of the hotel,” said Jeppson. “Once we established the time line for the infrastructure repairs, we decided to go ahead with the guestfacing projects. In combination with the other renovations that we have completed in recent years, our guests will now be staying in an almost fully renovated, elegant and historic hotel.”
The basement, however, won’t be fully completed for a couple more months. Hotel staff is stationed in the basement. Since the flooding, those members have used temporary offices at the state annex building.
Jeppson explained the wire still needs to be pulled for lighting as well as the cooling and heating. The rooms need to be devised. He anticipates within 60 days the staff will be back in the basement.
Renovations worked on include:
• Guest Rooms: All 124 guest rooms have received new carpeting, paint and blinds, as well as renovations to the bathrooms.
• Guest Room Corridors: The guest room corridors have received a complete makeover, including new carpeting, wall coverings and paint and new light fixtures. Artwork by local artist Frankie Flores has been installed on three floors, and photos of Saratoga’s past adorn the walls. The new color scheme is contemporary yet incorporates the Art Deco geometric design as a connection to The Gideon Putnam’s history.
• Putnam’s Restaurant: New carpeting is being installed and other enhancements are being made in Putnam’s restaurant.
• Lobby: Areas of the hotel’s lobby are being painted and restored.
In 2017, Delaware North completed a $1.25 million renovation of the hotel’s large ballroom and lobby space outside it. In all, Delaware North has spent more than $10 million since 2008 on improvements to the rooms, corridors, meeting spaces, restaurant, lobby and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
The hotel has 23 scheduled weddings this summer. This weekend, beginning Sunday, the New York State Conference of Mayors will fill the hotel.
Jeppson said he’s excited the hotel is back up and running.
“It’s one thing just to repair the damage that exists down there. But to be able to take advantage and improve the hotel so that when you come out of it, it’s better than when you went into it,” said Jeppson. “It’s exciting, and you can feel the energy of the team that’s here. I couldn’t be more excited.”