Preservation Foundation receives donation from Higgins Family Foundation
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation is pleased to announce it received a “Revive 65” donation from the Higgins Family Foundation for $25,000.
“My daughters, Alexandra and Kristina, and I have enjoyed all the great benefits of living in Saratoga. This is our chance to give a little back to preserve a part of the what makes Saratoga the place we love,” said Rick Higgins of the Higgins Family Foundation.
This unexpected, generous gift in support of preserving the 1851 Alexander A. Patterson House at 65 Phila Street puts the total of donations received to nearly $215,000, not including the numerous in-kind contributions received from Allerdice Building Supply, Bonacio Construction, CASmith, LLC., ERSI, Frost Hurff Architects, The LA Group, and Thompson-Fleming Land Surveyors, P.C.
“This contribution is another testament to the commitment of our community to preserving
Saratoga Springs,” said Adam Favro, president of the board of directors.
This is the first property to be rehabilitated under the Foundation’s new Historic Property Redevelopment Program which was made possible, in part, by the recent grant received from The 1772 Foundation. This property is important because of its associations with early development of the city, spring waters, and the Jewish community.
“The Foundation is grateful to the Higgins Family Foundation for their generous gift that allows the rehabilitation of 65 Phila Street to continue to move forward,” said Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation Executive Director Samantha Bosshart.
The Foundation’s Revive 65 Committee has evaluated the existing conditions of the building, including an environmental assessment and window survey, as well as completed architectural drawings, existing and proposed. In March, the City of Saratoga Springs Design Review Commission approved the Foundation’s historic review application. The building permit to perform initial work was approved at the end of April and in June the interior demolition began. ERSI, based out of Syracuse, completed the removal of all plaster and lathe and will begin environmental abatement in the coming weeks. Prior to demolition, Bonacio Construction carefully removed all of the historic window sashes that will be stored until they can be restored.
Once the environmental abatement and structural repairs are completed, the Foundation will undertake an exterior rehabilitation. The property will then be sold to someone who will complete the interior and be a good steward for years to come. The net proceeds from the sale of this property will be reinvested into a future preservation project, potentially another endangered building, that will benefit the community.
Support the Foundation’s efforts to “Revive 65” by making a donation or becoming a member. In addition to preserving this important historic resource of the community, the Foundation is documenting the process and the project will be the source of multiple educational programs. Visit www.saratogapreservation.org or call (518) 587-5030 for more information or to join, follow the Foundation on social media, and join their email list to get regular progress updates.