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Housing authority seeks funds to repair high-rise

A crane is used to upgrade an elevator at Lake Flower Apartments in Saranac Lake in 2016. (Enterprise photo — Chris Knight)

SARANAC LAKE — The Harrietstown Housing Authority is seeking grant funding to help fix the facade of its Lake Flower Apartments high-rise building at 14 Kiwassa Road. The total project cost is estimated at $1.5 million.

“It’s a big, big deal,” said Harrietstown town Councilman Howard Riley at the Thursday board meeting. There are 78 apartments in the building, which houses low-income and elderly people, people with disabilities and the housing authority offices.

Executive Director Sarah Clarkin said the authority has some funding it can commit to this project but hopes to qualify for a $300,000 federal Community Block Development Grant.

“The housing authority is seeking funds to stabilize its facade,” said Clarkin. “Especially on the upper floors, the facade is crumbling because of the way the brick was used, and the way the building was constructed.”

The brick facade covers a thin layer of insulation. Heat exchange in the wall has led to moisture getting into the wall, as well as loss of heat to the outdoors.

“In some locations water is penetrating the wall,” said Clarkin. “At some time it might have been good insulation, but that is no longer the case.”

The Harrietstown Town Council voted to sponsor the grant application.

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