53 Putnam: a model for sustainable development, environmental responsibility, and affordable home ownership in downtown Saratoga Springs

Homeownership has long been the main path to economic mobility in the United States. For generations, it allowed working people to build stability, accumulate wealth, and create something they could pass on to their children. A mortgage acted as forced savings, and owning property provided security and independence that renting does not. Today, that path has narrowed sharply. What was once within reach for much of the working class has increasingly become a privilege for a shrinking and more affluent group, especially in desirable urban centers like Saratoga Springs.

There is a myth that cities today face only two possible futures: they must either survive through development that displaces long-time working-class residents, or slowly decay under the weight of disinvestment and stagnation. That is a false choice. Cities do need development to survive, adapt, and remain economically healthy, but it does not have to come at the expense of the people who already live there. With the right priorities, growth can strengthen existing communities and benefit working people.

The redevelopment of 53 Putnam Street shows how this alternative can work in practice. Instead of catering exclusively to higher-income buyers or investors and accelerating gentrification, the project expands access to homeownership for working-class residents in the heart of the city. People who already contribute to Saratoga’s economy and civic life can stay rooted, build equity, and share in the city’s growth instead of being pushed to its margins. The project also aims to demonstrate a more responsible approach to land use and the environment. For decades, the site sat condemned and polluted, an unusable brownfield in the middle of the city. Cleaning it up and putting it back into productive use improves public health, prevents outward sprawl, and turns a long-neglected liability into a community asset. Locating affordable homes in the urban core reduces commuting, encourages walkability, and makes better use of existing infrastructure.

Economic and environmental justice are closely connected. The community that have faced pollution and neglect are often the same ones shut out from opportunities to own homes and build wealth. Creating safe, affordable housing in the urban core gives residents healthier neighborhoods and a real chance to invest in their future. Growth that includes these communities strengthens the people who already live there instead of pushing them to the edges of the city. When families can stay in their neighborhoods, local businesses have steady customers, schools see consistent enrollment, and civic life grows stronger. Affordable homeownership preserves social networks and cultural ties, helping neighborhoods remain engaged, resilient, and vibrant. Children grow up in stable environments connected to the schools, parks, and organizations that shape their daily lives, giving families the stability they need to thrive.

This approach could also help address the rising cost of living across New York State. Many families face high rents, limited housing options, and neighborhoods that are slowly slipping out of reach. Expanding affordable homeownership in city centers keeps residents rooted while supporting local businesses and ensuring essential workers remain close to the schools, hospitals, and services they rely on. It prevents displacement that forces families to the margins, increasing commute times, transportation costs, and stress while weakening the social fabric of the community. Accessible housing can make growth work for everyone, not just the most affluent residents.

Growth would be measured not just in property values or new developments, but in how well communities are supported and strengthened. Families could build wealth and stability, children could grow up with opportunity, and neighborhoods could retain the people and culture that make them unique. By focusing height and density enhancements at 53 Putnam Street, and combining economic opportunity, environmental responsibility, community investment and sustainable urban development, Saratoga Springs can serve as a model for how to address the affordable housing crisis in New York State.