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Board issues negative determination of historic significance and approves demolition of rear porch at 722 North Broadway
Summary
Saratoga Springs Design Review Board found a rear porch addition at 722 North Broadway to be historic but not architecturally significant and approved demolition, with a condition to salvage identifiable historic columns and moldings.
The Saratoga Springs Design Review Board on March 19 determined that a rear porch addition at 722 North Broadway is historic but does not contribute architectural or historical significance to the main house and approved its demolition, adding a condition that any original columns or dentil molding be salvaged where feasible.
Board members reviewed historical maps and photographs presented by the applicantrepresentatives which showed the building footprint evolving between 1888 and 1901. The applicant's consultant noted mixed construction details, non-original plywood ceilings, 1970s slate flooring and modern railings on the porch that indicated the back porch has been altered multiple times and is likely a later addition to the original house.
After a site visit by several board members, the board concluded the porch's removal would not negatively affect the integrity or character of the main façade and voted to issue a negative determination of significance under the city's review rules, exempting the action from SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review). Because the negative significance determination was reached, the board then discussed and approved demolition of the rear porch and voted to approve related exterior modifications, including either of two railing options shown in the submission.
The board recorded that certain decorative elements still exhibited original character; the approval includes a note that those elements should be salvaged. The board also approved the applicant's subsequent exterior modification submittal (revisions included deletion of an earlier-proposed round window and substitution of a different railing style), and allowed the applicant to choose either railing option.
Next steps: the applicant may proceed with demolition and the approved exterior changes, subject to the condition to salvage and retain original columns and dentil molding where practical, and to standard building-permit procedures.
