SBJ P.O. Box 766 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL
VOL. 29 NO. 1
HH The Business Newspaper of Saratoga County HH
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MARCH 2024
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A $6 Million Renovation Is Now Underway Saratoga Springs City Council Offers A Variety To Upgrade The Southern Saratoga YMCA Of Solutions To The Downtown Parking Issue
An architect’s rendering shows the exterior of the Southern Saratoga YMCA, which is undergoing a $6 million renovation expected to be completed within a year. BY CHRISTINE GRAF Work is currently underway on a $6 million renovation project at the Southern Saratoga YMCA. Located in Clifton Park, the branch is one of the 10 operated by the Capital District YMCA (CDYMCA). As part of its $20 million capital campaign, the CDYMCA plans to renovate some of its older facilities. The project in Clifton Park represents phase one of the plan, the rest of which has yet to be announced. Built in 1994, the Southern Saratoga YMCA will undergo a major interior and exterior facelift. Unutilized and underutilized spaces within the facility will be repurposed, mechanical and HVAC systems will be upgraded, and technologic capabilities will be enhanced. “We will be adding new administrative office areas as well as collaborative spaces for learning and sharing—a community space with multi-purpose rooms,” said David Brown, CEO of the CDYMCA. “We’re also enhancing the kitchen, making it a chef’s kitchen. That will allow us to offer more classes and programming in the kitchen.”
Courtesy of Southern Saratoga YMCA
The renovation includes new and expanded spaces for teens and youth, a refresh of the lobby and gyms, and enhancements to the childcare facilities. The pool area, locker rooms, and sauna will also be updated. The facility’s wellness centers will be expanded, a larger spinning studio will be added, and several new lines of high-tech fitness equipment will be purchased. Exterior renovations will include a new façade for the building as well as new landscaping. A small outdoor splash pad for children will also be added to the side of the building. “We’re focusing on modernization, technology, and a refresh of the space,” said Brown. “We want to make sure that we continue to serve the community, and the facility was 30 years old, so it was time to freshen it up. Everything is going to brighter and more vibrant, and we are going to improve technology and IT capabilities in all of our spaces.” Renovations began in February and are expected be finished within a year. Bonaquisti Brothers Construction of Albany is performing the work, completing the project in phases.
The United States Army Ambassadors To Play A Free Concert At Universal Preservation Hall The internationally acclaimed Jazz Ambassadors of Washington, DC will continue its long tradition of presenting free public performances when they appear in Saratoga Springs, NY at Universal Preservation Hall 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 20, 2024. The Jazz Ambassadors’ concert in Saratoga Springs is presented by Proctors Collaborative. The Jazz Ambassadors is the official touring big band of the United States Army. Formed in 1969, this 19-member ensemble has received great acclaim at home and abroad performing America’s greatest original art form, jazz. Concerts by the Jazz Ambassadors are programmed to entertain all types of audiences. The band’s diverse repertoire includes big band swing, bebop, Latin, contemporary jazz, standards, popular tunes, traditional New Orleans jazz, vocals and patriotic selections, many of which are written or arranged by members of the Jazz Ambassadors. The Jazz Ambassadors have appeared in all 50 states, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India and throughout Europe. Recent notable per-
formances include concerts at the Toronto Jazz Festival, the Richmond Jazz Festival at Maymont, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Jazz Education Network Conference and an appearance on The Colbert Report. Gordon Goodwin, Bobby Shew, Ernie Watts and the Dave Brubeck All-Star Quintet are just a few of the outstanding jazz artists who have shared the stage with the Jazz Ambassadors. The band has been featured in joint concerts with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony Pops, the Colorado Pops Orchestra and the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. The band’s rigorous touring schedule and reputation for excellence has earned it the title “America’s Big Band.” For additional information about the Jazz Ambassadors’ performance in Saratoga Springs, please contact the Box Office at Proctors, in person, online by visiting atuph.org or via phone at (518) 346-6204 Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. or Sunday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL A paid parking proposal before the Saratoga Springs City Council had many local business owners scratching their heads for the past few months, but a simpler approach is now in the works. The multi-faceted proposal seen in news media and spearheaded by Department of Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub calls for the City-owned parking garages and surface lots north of Spring Street, east of Broadway, and north of Division Street to the west to charge a fee of $2 per hour from the time of entry. Paid parking would only be in effect for the summer, but residents and businesses get permits to park for free. “A growing city like Saratoga Springs needs to consider how it can pay for, and expand, services that support a booming tourist industry and our residents,” said Commissioner Golub. “Investing into the downtown corridor and streamlining visitor parking without balancing it on the back of the taxpayers was one of the primary goals of the seasonal parking program.” While Broadway was deemed to remain meter-free and accessible by all, the original proposal designated several blocks of parking spaces on streets adjacent to Broadway as “permit only” or “two-hour free or permit only,” according to a presentation Commissioner Golub made to the Downtown Business Association members and their guests. The forum was at DBA’s invitation and held at City Hall on February 15, 2024, according to Joseph Vidarte, a Merrill Lynch financial advisor who has worked from an office on Broadway since 2017. The full proposal was submitted one week later to City Council. “With the first proposal, our team wanted to try to solve existing and predict future problems with downtown parking, but with the broader scope came some additional concerns,” said the Commissioner. Those concerns included the “confusing” al-
City parking garages may see a change to paid and permit parking during the summer months. Courtesy Saratoga Business Journal
lotment of spaces that were to be permit-only or two-hour limited parking, according to Vidarte. Then things changed. “We will start with a smaller and more manageable program for seasonal parking, only impacting the garages and surface lots,” Commissioner Golub said. “The downtown streets will be left as-is.” Another tweak was to shorten the season from Memorial Day to Labor Day instead of May 1st through September 30th, said Vidarte. Vidarte is on the board of directors for the Downtown Business Association and is also a resident whose “whole life revolves around the City” of Saratoga Springs. He indicated that at best the proposed parking space designations, if implemented in the future, would be “confusing for tourists and non-permitted” visitors to downtown. At worst, “some business owners felt it wouldn’t be good for business,” although he said Continued On Page 4
Alex Brame Is Appointed Executive Director To Lead The Way At STRIDE Adaptive Sports STRIDE Adaptive Sports, one of America’s most respected nonprofits committed to empowering individuals through life-changing sport and recreation programs, is proud to announce the appointment of Alex Brame as its new Executive Director. Alex joins STRIDE with an impressive background and passion for making a positive difference in sport. Alex was the executive director of New York West Youth Soccer Association for 7 years, fundraising and advocating across New York State for youth programs, competitions and tournaments across a 54,000 membership. With a focus on inclusivity and a proven track record of strengthening organizational funding, Alex is well-positioned to lead STRIDE into its next chapter of growth and impact. Alex inherits the leadership of STRIDE from Mary Ellen Whitney, the Founder and CEO of STRIDE for almost 40 years. The Board of Directors, staff, and all of STRIDE’s communities are indebted to Mary Ellen’s immeasurable dedication to build and lead STRIDE since 1985. Under Mary Ellen’s leadership, STRIDE hosts and delivers more than 14,000 annual adaptive lessons and activities at sites across the New York Capital region, positively impacting the lives of more than 2,500 families
Alex Brame, new Executive Director, at STRIDE Adaptive Sports. Courtesy STRIDE
annually. “I am thrilled that we have hired Alex as the next executive director of STRIDE after a 16 month search,” said Mary Ellen Whitney. “I know that Alex will be a significant asset to Continued On Page 9