RISE's Finley Street project jumps a couple hurdles

Learn the latest and what the neighbors are saying

RISE, the affordable housing provider, has a proposal to raze the building at right and replace it with affordable housing.

A three-story, low-income housing building proposed for 26 Finley St. in Saratoga Springs has received two helping hands toward its final building permit.

In May, the Design Review Board said the building currently in that location does not meet historical standards and can be demolished.

As well, the Saratoga Springs City Council has approved sending a letter of support to RISE, the low-income housing developer and management company that is proposing the project.

The letter supports RISE in its pursuit of funding through the New York State Office of Mental Health’s Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) Funding Opportunity.

“For more than 40 years, RISE has served as a cornerstone of Saratoga County’s continuum of care, providing compassionate, evidence-based housing and support services to individuals with serious mental illness, substance use disorders, and histories of homelessness,” the letter states in part.

In an interview with the Dispatch, Mayor John Safford said that the letter is intended to help with the financing, which he said RISE had about a “50-50 chance” of winning. However, he is well aware that neighbors surrounding this proposed project and others nearby have the residents in the area worried. Helping with the grant application is just one step, he said.

The letter and approval are far from the end of the process