12
NEWS
Week of December 1 – December 7, 2017
Intrada Saratoga Springs Proposal Features 156 New Units of “AFFORDABLE” HOUSING by Thomas Dimopoulos Saratoga TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Vecino Group, one of four applicants seeking to develop vacant land adjacent to the Saratoga Springs train station on the city’s west side, meets with the Planning Board this week for a site plan review regarding their Intrada Saratoga Springs project. The plan calls for the creation of 156 new units of affordable housing - 124 of the units will be for families and individuals at 60 percent of Area Median Income, or AMI (roughly about $50,000), 23 units to serve those earning up to 90 percent of AMI (about $75,000), eight units for Youth Aging Out of Foster Care - with assistance provided by the Empire State
Supportive Housing Initiative, and one unit for use by an on-site superintendent. The Vecino Group’s Intrada Saratoga Springs proposal seeks to develop approximately one-third of their 19.14-acre property at the intersections of Washington Street, West Avenue and Station Lane. The plan includes 5,000 square feet of commercial lease space that will front Washington Street, and 5,000 square feet of common/amenity space – to include a health clinic staffed by SUNY Empire State students and staff for tenant use, workout facility, community room, meeting rooms, study areas and office space.
Local Republican Announces
2018 CANDIDACY
FOR SARATOGA COUNTY
DI STRI C T AT T O RN EY
SARATOGA SPRINGS —Republican Gerard Amedio on Nov. 16 announced his candidacy for Saratoga County District Attorney in the fall 2018 election. “I’m a public servant who has dedicated my life to improving the safety of those in our community and helping to protect those who are most vulnerable,” Amedio said, in a statement. “We need a change in this office, and I stand ready to deliver. I’m ready to bring my unique combination of experience – as a police officer and as an attorney – to serve the people of Saratoga County as your new District Attorney.” Amedio served as a police officer with the Rensselaer Police Department for 17 years and currently owns and operates his law firm in Saratoga Springs, where he focuses on defense work on felonies, misdemeanors and
Gerard Amedio. Photo provided.
violations across 12 counties, according to the statement. Karen Heggen, also a Republican, was elected to her first four-year term as Saratoga County district attorney in November 2014. The Primary Election will be held next September.
Four for One: A multi-project composite that includes proposed development areas on the city’s west side by the Vecino Group (Intrada), Station Lane, Akew, and Faden.
City Mayor-Elect MEG KELLY ANNOUNCES DEPUTY SARATOGA SPRINGS — Mayor-Elect Meg Kelly has announced that she will appoint Lisa Shields to be Deputy Mayor, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Shields has been Executive Assistant to Mayor Joanne Yepsen since August 2016. “Lisa’s leadership is already at work in the Mayor’s Office,” Kelly said, in a statement. “Her organization and communications skills have improved our responsiveness and readiness to move our priorities forward. These contributions will leverage a smooth transition for us, and as deputy, Lisa will continue to lead process improvements within our department, help to build consensus for our agenda throughout City Hall, and ensure that the highest level of service represents all the work we will do in my administration.” Shields is a graduate of South Glens Falls High School and holds a bachelor’s degree in
computer science from SUNY Potsdam. She began her career as an IT professional for HewlettPackard in California, working as a system engineer, network design consultant, and account executive in the financial, entertainment and aerospace industries. She also served on the board of Ascension Lutheran School in CA and in several IT roles. Since moving back to New York in 2006, Shields has worked in various administrative and IT support roles for the Saratoga Springs United Methodist Church, Mannix Marketing in Glens Falls and Saratoga Children’s Theatre, which was founded by Meg Kelly, where Shields also served on its board. For the Saratoga Springs
Lisa Shields. Photo provided.
School District, she worked for three years as producer of the high school drama club. She and her husband Dan have three children and live in Saratoga Springs.