January 13, 2023 |
A vacant, old bar in Saratoga will come back to life as an office building.
Triple D Construction will move its offices into the 130-year-old, faded green building at East Bridge and River Street. Once known as J.D. Paulson Saloon, the building was established on the east bank of the river in the 1800’s. More familiarly known as the “green building,” it’s fading green paint the indicates years of neglect. It has been vacant for years. Bryan Drake, Triple D’s owner, said he intends to renovate the Western-style structure to look more like it did in the past.
Drake purchased the building from the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort last year. In October, Drake applied for a building variance from the Saratoga Planning and Zoning Commission. The age of the building meant it no longer complied with the town’s ordinances. Drake said it will need a log of work to be transformed into a modern office space with meeting room.
Still in its original 1890’s location, the green building only sits a few feet back from the road. At the December 20th town council meeting, then-Mayor Creed James explained why a variance was necessary.
Drake also needed a variance of the town’s non-conforming building ordinance.” Mayor James explained how the appraised cost of the building had to be a certain percentage over the price of renovations.
Twelve out of the 18 neighbors living within 300 feet of the property indicated their approval of Drake’s plan, exceeding the 50% threshold needed for the variance to be considered. The planning and zoning commission also recommended the variance be granted. The governing body approved the variance. Drake said despite building’s age and years of neglect, said the structure has plenty of life left in it.
Instead of sitting vacant, a part of Saratoga’s 19th century past will be saved and repurposed for the 21st century.
