Neighbors of a proposed condominium at the corner of Park Place and Cottage Street on the city’s east side poured into the City Council chamber Thursday evening, with about 40 people packing the small room and another dozen or so standing in the hallway.
They took turns at the microphone, telling the Saratoga Springs Planning Board members that the building as proposed is too big, it will change the character of the neighborhood too much, and keep what little winter sun there is from reaching the windows of the house next door.
They held signs that said “No Big Condo.”
The proposed building is three stories high with a flat roof and six parking spaces in a basement garage. Vincent and Katherine LaTerra are the applicants represented by architect Matt Hurff of Frost Hurff Architects, and Kirsten Catellier of Studio A landscape architects. The board saw the project, again, July 31.
Neighbor Allie Dockum said she had written letters and spoken to the board “multiple times,” but added more: “It's not that the neighborhood wants nothing there. It's just too big for the space.”
Dave Guarino said his house is the largest in the neighborhood and still it is only two stories, compared to the three of the proposed building. He added that the Five Points commercial building just down the street is only two floors and covers a much smaller overall footprint than the proposed condo.
“You can fit four of my homes inside of that building for volume, and mine is biggest in the neighborhood,” he said.
Still an hour of speeches, handouts and visual aids — most staunchly against the project — might not have been enough to stop the forward progress, but one thing no one saw coming just might.
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