GROUNDBREAKING
City Center ceremony ushers in economic boost to downtown
It is said that good things come to those who wait.
Monday’s ground breaking ceremony on the site immediately below the convention, conference and meeting center in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs was a giant leap forward toward making the paid, new 600 space parking structure a reality.
The need for additional parking was apparent when the Saratoga Springs City Center opened its doors in the early 1980s; now short and long-term visitors to the city as well as residents can look forward to an end to the need to spend inordinate valuable time circling the block in search of a parking space and instead head conveniently on in to the City Center which will now be able to host an increased multitude of events.
The new parking structure on Maple Avenue opposite the City Center will connect via pedestrian bridge directly to the City Center. The design was developed by Envision Architects and the L.A. Group and the building contract has been awarded to Bette & Cring for the project which is estimated to open in late 2020 after many revisions and much controversy.
City officials donned hard hats to officiate and participate in what has become a “habitual ritual” in Saratoga Springs. The traditional ground breaking ceremony is defined as “a representation of the importance of the act of constructing and making physical, and real, a concept that had originated in the imagination.”
The gathering lived that out as a perfectly deposited mound of pristine rock and debris-free soil was waiting when city officials arrived to don flawless white hard hats and pick up their golden shovels to act out in municipal symbolism the start of a project whose approval, planning and development began two years ago.
Developed by the Flat Rock Working Group and spearheaded by Mayor Meg Kelly with participation from the City Council, is the culmination of 2 years of planning and development.
Ryan McMahon, Executive Director of the City Center welcomed those present and expressed his gratitude.
“A big thank you goes to Mayor Kelly and our elected officials, the Flat Rock working group, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Discover Saratoga, Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association, our many clients, residents and many others for their effort on this project! We are thrilled to begin work on this much needed parking structure.
“After years of working in partnership with Mayor Kelly and the City Council, the parking structure, which is part of phase one of the Flat Rock development, will be a game changer for the City of Saratoga Springs and the clients of the City Center. This phase of the construction also includes two green spaces and the extension of the Greenbelt Trail.
“The structure will relieve the parking stress created by City Center clients on the north end of the city, allow citizens better parking when they come downtown and open up new opportunities for the City Center to bring in national conferences.
“City Center is one of the major economic drivers of the city and the structure is needed to keep us competitive and expand our client base. Several current clients have looked at other communities due to a shortage of parking for their attendees and this allows us to keep current impactful business.
“Further, the City Center and Convention Bureau are already in talks with a large national conference which would bring five thousand room nights to Saratoga Springs outside of the racing season. The impact of events such as this help to keep Saratoga Springs downtown healthy and vibrant year round.”
Kelly was beaming with the “birth” of the vision she shared with so many other city officials:
“Today is a day to celebrate,” she said.
Tom Roohan, Chairman of the Saratoga Springs City Center, added his support for the $16 million project that will be financed by the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority.
“We have issued the challenge to the team at the already successful Saratoga Springs City Center. With increased parking, they can only be busier and more successful!” Roohan said.
Saratoga County Chamber President Todd Shimkus was enthusiastic that the big day had finally arrived:
“This parking garage is going to help downtown grow and thrive, and will make it the City Center and Saratoga Springs even more attractive and popular as a destination. The green spaces and Greenbelt Trail aspects are particularly important to recognize.
“I’m excited; it’s going to triple the number of cars to a capacity of 600. The City Center is the economic engine of Saratoga Springs; more people, more conventions means more money spent.”
Commissioner of Public Safety Peter Martin expressed his satisfaction that the project was moving forward:
“This was a long time in the making. We’re going to make visiting Saratoga Springs even more attractive.”
McMahon shared the genesis of the project and economic bottomline propelling the parking structure forward.
“The City Center Authority tasked Bette & Cring in 2014 with designing and building a parking structure. This most recent design concept was created by Mayor Kelly’s Flat Rock Working Group which the City Council then tasked the execution of the concept drawings which the City Center then took to Bette & Cring to create the current design.
“They were approved at last Tuesday’s City Council Meeting and the lease was then signed after the meeting.
“Site prep has begun; fencing will go up around the lower lot on Wednesday September 24. The upper lot will close in mid November, with the current lot behind the Hilton remaining open for parking until project completion.
“It is projected that the structure’s lower floors will open in time for the 2020 track season. I’ve been asked several times why the structure is needed when the City Center is already busy.
“This is what it means. We are working on a five day event with over 1,000 people anticipated in the Spring of 2022 that would mean $5 million dollars of revenue that is entirely contingent on having the ability to provide parking.
“We have lost 13 events or 10,000 room nights which means an economic impact or loss of $2.25 million, with the reason cited being insufficient parking.
“We are looking at another potential 29 events with a possible 23,000 people attending that would mean $16 million, all requiring parking to happen.”
When asked what the cost of parking in the garage is expected to be to visitors, McMahon said the first hour would be free to patrons, with a one dollar per hour cost capping at $15.00 per 24 hour period. McMahon reiterated that the project will be financed by the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority, freeing up taxpayer funds for other essential initiatives.