RE: Debar Pond Lodge 2025 DEIS Draft Scope Comment
August 15, 2025
Steve Guglielmi
NYSDEC
PO Box 296, 1115 State Route 86
Ray Brook, NY 12977
RE: Debar Pond Lodge 2025 DEIS Draft Scope Comment
Dear Mr. Guglielmi:
The Preservation League of New York State submits the following comments in response to the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Draft Scope for its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Debar Mountain Complex. The League is New York’s statewide nonprofit historic preservation organization. We frequently partner with our regional colleagues at Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) to support preservation efforts throughout the Adirondack region.
In recent years, we have worked with AARCH and the Debar Pond Institute to support preservation and reuse of Debar Pond Lodge, advocating for passage of a constitutional amendment to remove the remaining historic buildings from the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Today, we continue to support AARCH’s call for a collaborative approach that would reclassify the lodge complex as Historic.
AARCH has extensive experience working collaboratively with the DEC and Town of Newcomb on the stabilization, restoration, and interpretation of Great Camp Santanoni, part of the Adirondack Forest Preserve, in Essex County. The League stands ready to support any efforts to explore similar collaborative reuse options.
We respectfully offer the following specific comments in response to the Draft DEIS Scope:
Non-Conforming Structure: New York State has an option to keep Debar Pond Lodge and manage the surrounding land as Wild Forest through the Historic land use classification available in the State Land Master Plan. Places such as Hurricane and St. Regis Mountain fire towers and Great Camp Santanoni remain as conforming structures under this classification. Again, AARCH’s collaborative stewardship of Great Camp Santanoni provides a template for this model.
Significance: As an example of Adirondack camp design, an important work of noted regional architect, William Distin, and due to its direct association with Adirondack tourism in the first half of the twentieth century, Debar Pond Lodge is indeed significant to the history, architecture, and culture of the Adirondack Park. All of these areas of significance are enumerated in the National Register of Historic Places nomination. As such, the Debar Pond Lodge meets the APSLMP definition for Historic areas.
Initial List of Potential Mitigation Measures: The potential mitigation measures listed in the Draft Scope, such as public educational materials and interpretive elements, would do little to mitigate the loss of a significant historic structure that helps tell the unique history of the Adirondack Park and that could serve as an accessible site from which to enjoy Debar Pond’s natural environment.
Potential challenges and benefits of rehabilitation: While the reuse and programming of the lodge would require a significant investment, the demolition and removal of Debar Pond Lodge will cost time and money in DEC resources, with no benefit to the public. Resources could be more economically put towards building repairs. In addition, AARCH—a respected and professional regional preservation organization, with a 35-year history of partnership with the DEC—has expressed readiness to commit to a public/private partnership that could bring significant resources to the table.
The potential benefit to the public of such a partnership would be greater than that of demolition. With proximity to a parking area, the lodge could provide accessible restrooms and public recreation facilities (a stated DEC goal for the site). The lodge would allow the public to explore the intersection of nature and culture in the Adirondacks and would serve as a draw for visitors.
There are few places in the forest preserve where one can experience wilderness in concert with historic architecture on public land. The harmony of historic architecture with an incredibly beautiful natural surrounding serves as a net asset to the people of New York State. Creating beautiful accessible spaces for all people who would like to experience the peacefulness of Debar Pond and incorporating a historic structure built in concert with its surroundings democratizes the space and contributes to creating an Adirondacks for all to enjoy.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment and for your consideration. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my staff if the Preservation League can be of assistance.
Sincerely,
Jay DiLorenzo
President, Preservation League of NYS