Hotel projects planned in Saratoga Springs

By Joseph Phelan

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.—A pair of proposed hotels may bring a total of 209 new rooms downtown.

The Rip Van Dam Hotel appeared in front of the city’s planning board recently as Saratoga Springs Partners presented updated renderings, a summary to improve civic space and changes to the 7 Washington St. location.

The project sits before the board for a modification to change the uses from a previous approval in 2014. The changes for the proposed six-story building include an increase in rooms from 142 to 159; a 2,900 square-foot restaurant on the top floor; removal of a banquet facility; and the addition of a pool.

Moving forward, the planning board wants the applicant to receive further input from the Saratoga Springs Design Review Commission regarding the mass and scale of the building overall, in particular in context of Washington Street as a whole, before coming back to the Planning Board.

Initially, the Adelphi Hotel & Spa, which is being proposed by Adelphi Hotel Partners at 19-23 Washington St., was scheduled to go before the planning board, but was pulled for a later date in order for the applicant to provide further materials related to the rear addition to the stone house currently on the site. The state’s Historic Preservation Office and Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation have asked questions on the merits of that portion of the structure.

According to site plan on the city’s website, the proposed six-story hotel and spa would have 50 guest suites, operating independently from the Adelphi Hotel, which is located at 365 Broadway. The proposal calls for the spa to be located on the basement level. The first floor calls for restrooms, a gym, a lounge, three small meeting rooms and a warming kitchen. The property was acquired from Bethesda Episcopal Church, which is located across the street, in 2014. The Stone House previously served as the church rectory.

The two hotels aren’t the only projects along Washington. The land-use boards approved two projects. One is for Bethesda Episcopal Church. The second is at Universal Preservation Hall at 25 Washington St., which is expected to cost $6.5 million. That project is expected to bring year-round entertainment with Proctors to the site. The renovations include an elevator, a kitchen, a lobby area, new heating and air conditioning as well as at least $500,000 worth of sound and acoustic equipment. The second floor will feature a performance space that can seat about 700 people.

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