I took this below photo of the partially constructed south side recreation center last week not knowing the State Supreme Court, Appelate Division, would soon be issuing a decision on the lawsuit a citizens group filed last year.
The long and short of the decision is that the citizens group got their asses handed to them and the court ruled in favor of the city on all arguments. I don't have a problem with these residents fighting the city on this - the process had a certain abruptness and arrogance to it and the plaintiffs had understandable motivations. Nonetheless, I hope these homeowners realize they're not going to get to the Court of Appeals and that this fight is over. If the court's decision doesn't tell the citizens that it's over, then the rapidly rising steel framing shown above should.
I had mixed feelings on this project because I hated to lose green space in the city, but I recognized that the park off Vanderbilt Avenue was underutilized and that a recreation center built in a location more convenient to the bulk of Saratoga Springs' population would be a year-round asset to city residents. I'll give Mayor Johnson credit for making it happen and then I'll enjoy the building as much as I can. I suggest everyone else do the same - it's going up and you're paying for it whether you use it or not.
- Link my previous entry here
- Saratogian article can be read here
- Times Union article is here.
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