Friday, March 20, 2009

oh, my, SPAC needs a paint job already?


SPAC’s 2006 coat of paint already peeling
Friday, March 20, 2009
By Tatiana Zarnowski (Contact)
Gazette Reporter



Photographer: Marc Schultz

Paint work done in 2006 has begun to peel at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center.Text Size: A A A
SARATOGA SPRINGS — It was just three years ago that the interior of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center was repainted as part of a $1.6 million upgrade.

But visit the empty amphitheater now and you’ll notice big chunks of peeling cream-colored paint hanging from the underside of the balcony.

The state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is working with the Mechanicville painter that did the 2006 project to spruce it up for this season.

Paint applied before W.W. Patenaude and Sons arrived on the scene in 2006 is the culprit, said Alane Ball Chinian, regional parks director.

“It’s not his paint that’s failing. It’s the previous paint,” Chinian said.

The area will have to be scraped and retouched each year unless the state gets enough money to sandblast the whole ceiling and start over, said Andrew Patenaude, one of the owners of the painting company.

“They would have to fully remove that paint, and probably by the time they fully removed it, the plaster would be disturbed,” Patenaude said.

As part of the $270,000 painting contract in 2006, the state asked Patenaude and Sons to scrape off loose paint and paint over the old paint rather than sandblast the plaster ceiling above the floor seats.

Patenaude said his paint stuck to the plaster where the old paint was scraped off.

The state office, which is responsible for facility upkeep for nonprofit tenant SPAC, can’t afford to get the area sandblasted and repainted now.

With its budget next year a big question mark, the parks office will spend its money on more important projects, such as a fire alarm system at the Hall of Springs and replacing portions of the Lincoln Baths roof, Chinian said.

“We have situations where something is presenting a health hazard or truly a dangerous situation,” she said.

That means that other work that was slated to happen at SPAC this year is still on hold as well, Chinian said.

A $2.5 million renovation planned for last fall and this year would have updated the look of the exterior and added new lighting, a new sound system and new bathrooms.

“No contracts are being advanced right now,” Chinian said.


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7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Louise would rather have the Lincoln Baths roof collapse on somebody and have someone burn to death in the Hall of Springs because there is no fire alarm so a 40 plus year old structure can get a new coat of paint every year. Not surprising.

Anonymous said...

"It’s not his paint that’s failing. It’s the previous paint,” Chinian said."

So, why hasn't that(older) paint fallen off before now ??? Who choose the 'new' paint?

save the victoria pool society said...

Hall of springs open since july 26,1935 suddenly needs smoke alarms?

Anonymous said...

I'm sure health and safety requirements and regulations might have changed in the last 74 years. So yes maybe it does suddenly needs smoke alarms...they do have stoves and everything I think it should have smoke alarms. But if you'd prefer to go into a dining hall for a reception and there is a fire and everyone is incinerated to death that's your business.

Anonymous said...

Would give yelling "fire" in a crowded restaurant meaning...
Of course safety codes need to be followed, in this litigious society the state has to cover all their bases so as not to cost all of us taxpayers more. Stop being silly STVPS!!! Im embarrassed for you for that comment, tssk... tssk...

Anonymous said...

I think since the Victoria Pool has been saved just like the Ballet you should disband just like the Save the Ballet committee did.

Anonymous said...

I painted the side of my house in 2006 also and some of the paint is peeling. I wonder if that was just a bad paint year?