Drug store eyes Saratoga Springs motel site

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tatiana Zarnowski

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Rite Aid Corp. has proposed building a new store on South Broadway where The Springs Motel is now.

Plans filed with the city Planning Board call for the demolition of the motel at 189 S. Broadway and several other buildings between a public alley and Hamilton Street. The two-story building would cover the motel tract and off-street parking for 40 cars would be built across the alley on several other parcels, according to site plans.

A public hearing on Rite Aid obtaining a special use permit is slated for the next Planning Board meeting Wednesday, which begins at 7 p.m.

The store would cover 14,673 square feet on the first floor. Seven apartments are proposed for the second floor. A Rite Aid spokeswoman could not say whether mixing housing with retail space is done at other Rite Aid stores, but Ashley Flower did confirm that the company is exploring opening another store in Saratoga Springs.

The Camp Hill, Pa.-based company also has stores on West Avenue in the city and on Route 50 in Wilton near the Wilton Mall.

The entire project would cover 1.07 acres at the intersection of South Broadway and Lincoln Avenue.

The site is just 1,500 feet from an Eckerd Pharmacy on Ballston Avenue. Eckerd is also owned by Rite Aid.

Two years ago business leaders named The Springs Motel as one of several local motels that have been eyed by developers.

Owners Karl and Patricia Mihalek did not return calls about the project Friday.

A public hearing on a proposed housing development is scheduled for the Planning Board’s Jan. 23 meeting.

Lands of Hearthstone Development at 394-402 Church St. would be 13 single-family homes clustered on 5.8 acres.

The property currently is vacant land and was used in the past for agriculture, according to the subdivision application. It is zoned Urban Residential-1 and lies on the south side of Church Street near the Buff Pines development.