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Design Review Board presses developers on scale and residential fit of proposed 624 North Broadway project
Summary
Developers of a proposed multi‑unit building at 624 North Broadway heard sustained criticism from the Design Review Board and dozens of public commenters, who said the current design reads as urban office/condo massing rather than residential buildings compatible with North Broadway's historic streetscape.
Developers and architects returned to the Saratoga Springs Design Review Board on Sept. 10 with revised plans for a multi‑unit project at 624 North Broadway. Board members and members of the public said the building’s mass, scale and urban character remain inconsistent with the surrounding residential corridor and urged a substantial redesign rather than incremental tweaks.
Board chair Tammy Anger said the project shows careful architectural work but “it just doesn't belong here,” noting the building’s scale and profile more closely resemble downtown or West Avenue urban buildings than residential North Broadway homes. Board members praised design improvements the applicant reported — deeper porches, beefed cornices and softened corners — but said those details did not change the fundamental urban character of the proposal.
Applicant George Olsen of Olsen Associates presented revised massing and porch treatments meant to break up the facade and add more residential character, and said the developer had reduced building footprint slightly and increased porch elements. Several board members said the changes were improvements but still insufficient. Jeff Wood and Rob DeBoeuf encouraged the design team to study nearby multi‑family projects that successfully emulate residential townhome scale, and to explore arranging units so facades read as individual townhouses with separate entries.
Public comment was strongly opposed. The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation submitted a letter (delivered the day of the meeting) describing the lot as part of one of the city’s most historic and walkable streets and urging a design that “looks and feels residential.” More than 40 public comments posted to the file and multiple residents spoke at the meeting, calling the proposed structure “incompatible,” “industrial” and out of scale with adjacent homes. Several neighbors raised safety and access questions related to garage entries and alley access.
Board members recommended several concrete steps for the applicant: - Reassess the use of continuous, urban massing and explore designs that read as multiple residential units (townhouse typology) rather than a single urban block. - Revisit driveway and garage access so that vehicular access does not dominate the street frontage; exploring alley access as the historic precedent was encouraged. - Return with a more detailed materials and porch/railing plan if the applicant proposes to keep larger massing.
No formal vote was taken. The applicant asked for feedback and will return with revised plans; board members recommended meeting with planning staff and preservation consultants to develop alternatives that more closely reflect North Broadway’s residential character.
Speakers on this item included George Olsen (Olsen Associates) for the applicant; Design Review Board Chair Tammy Anger and members Rob DeBoeuf, Chris Bennett and Jeff Wood; Samantha Bossart of the Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation; and multiple residents including Casey Cali. Comments and quotations are drawn from the Sept. 10 meeting transcript.
