Emergency Services Complex Floor Plan 2025-08-01
🚨 Public Records Reveal New $30 Million+ Emergency Services Complex Floor Plan
(Obtained through FOIL — not provided by the Village)
For two years, residents have been asking for information about the Village of Saranac Lake’s plan to build a 60,000 + sq. ft. Emergency Services Complex — a project with an estimated price tag of $30 million (and rising).
Trustees have asked for updates at every public meeting from Mayor Williams.
Residents have submitted Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests directly to the Village.
Result?
Silence. Denials. Delay.
The floor plan we are sharing today did not come from the Village. It came from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation — a state agency reviewing one small part of the project — in response to a citizen FOIL request.
It’s your money. It’s your community. You deserve to see it.
The Plan You Weren’t Meant to See
[📄 Download the PDF]
(Concept floor plan for Emergency Services Complex — obtained via FOIL from NYS Parks & Historic Preservation)
Why This Matters
We all agree: Saranac Lake’s police, fire, and rescue responders need better facilities.
But how we build them — and at what cost — matters.
Saranac Lake has a 100-year tradition of building big, successful community projects the right way:
Mt. Pisgah
Dewey Mountain
The Civic Center
In every case, ideas were openly debated, locations reconsidered, designs revised.
The Saranac Lake Way vs. This Process
Open dialogue vs. Closed-door planning
Multiple options considered vs. One site, no real alternatives
Community input shapes design vs. Public sees design after decisions are made
Respect for neighborhood expertise vs. Resident concerns dismissed
Transparent cost discussions vs. Price tag unclear, no public breakdown
The False Claims We’ve Been Told
“There are no alternatives.”
– False. Other sites exist.“Only a few neighbors care.”
– False. People can’t weigh in if they’re kept in the dark until it’s too late.“Leave it to the experts.”
– False. Experts inform design. Community defines success.
What’s Next?
The rendering is public now. The questions are obvious:
Why wasn’t this shared sooner?
Why did we have to FOIL a state agency to see it?
What other documents exist that we haven’t seen?
It’s time for the Village to open the books, share the plans, and involve the people who will pay for and live with this project.
📢 Speak up. Contact your Trustees. Share this page. Demand answers.
Because this isn’t just a building. It’s a test of whether we still do things the Saranac Lake way.
