Here We Go Again

   

Exactly how many 4 story buildings can a small city have before it looks like a large city and loses its small city charm?  Well, just keep your eyes on Saratoga Springs and you’ll see how long.  The landscape has changed so much that if you left the City 10 years ago, you wouldn’t know Saratoga when you came back to visit.

There used to be various contractors that built the monstrosities in the past but under our current Mayor it seems he is pushing these buildings through on a fast track.  Why you ask?  Probably because after this term he will bounce back and forth between Miami, California and some brief visits to Saratoga Springs.  What mentality has spurred the growth and wants to keep it going?  Well, those who have come into Saratoga to make the City home come from largely populated areas and are mostly seniors (not all) who have retired here to get away from the nightmares of big city living.  Are these people responsible for making Saratoga a mini version of the large cities they left?  I will grant you, the arts, museums, a City Center, short access to the Northway etc., etc., etc. (gee, I used one of Mayor Johnson’s most used phrase) make Saratoga Springs a very nice place to live, but at what expense?  Saratoga Springs has lost that quaint charm it once had, are we better off or not?

I feel this rampant growth has to ease up until our infrastructure can handle this growth.  Saratoga Springs has only grown by about 400 people in the last 10 years according to the last census, yet when looking around you would think we have doubled our population.

One business to be built if the developer can get 3 million dollars in tax breaks would be an 11 screen theater with retail and apartments, why can’t those who work in Saratoga Springs live here with all these new apartments?

On the heals of this announcement comes the Congress Plaza giant, a 6 story hotel (the owner says maybe some retail, maybe not).  He already has a hotel chain lined up; at least he plans on additional parking spots.  I wonder if this deal comes with a tax break like the theater?  We need more 5 & 6 story buildings in Saratoga, especially downtown.