May 31, 2024 - In this issue: | |
Winning ADU Design Plans Now Available for Public | |
Two Housing Projects Win Close to $15M in Grants | |
Auction for 168 Fairview Ave. | |
Live Well Kingston's Bicycle Skills Rodeo | |
Dietz Stadium Construction Update | |
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show | |
City of Kingston Job Opportunities | |
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Mayor's Message:
Dear Friends -
Happy Pride Month! I look forward to celebrating our LGBTQ+ community this month across several community events.
With our new form-based zoning code, one of the biggest changes is allowing ADUs citywide, a concept that has been proven to benefit communities by adding much-needed affordable housing, creating density, and diversifying housing type.
In order to make ADUs easier to build, we launched the 'Yes to ADUs!' design competition. This week, Demo’s winning design is available free to homeowners in Kingston who wish to move forward with building an ADU on their property.
-Steve
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Winning ADU Design Plans Now Available for Public | |
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Demo Architecture, the firm that won the City of Kingston’s ‘Yes to ADUs!’ accessory dwelling unit design competition, has completed their construction plans, which are now available for public use.
Demo Architecture’s winning design has been pre-approved by the Kingston Building Department, and the permit-ready construction documents can be found here. Working with their own design professional, Kingston property owners can use the construction documents to obtain building permits to construct new, detached ADUs based on the design.
The winning design was DEMO Architecture’s design, with Plus One by Andrade Architecture as the runner up, and a $3,000 award for the best non-professional/student design went to Part & Parcel by Rafael Cruz.
More information available at https://engagekingston.com/adu-design-competition.
The Yes to ADUs! Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition was funded with the City of Kingston’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, and is part of the Plus One Home Program, a partnership between the City of Kingston, Ulster County, and RUPCO.
The Plus One Home Program provides funding to low- and moderate-income residents to create new code-compliant ADUs. To be eligible, homeowners must meet the income threshold (i.e., earning 100% or less of Ulster County Area Media Income) and can receive up to $125,000 dollars for the construction or rehabilitation of an ADU. In exchange, the homeowner also must agree to rent the apartment at an affordable rate for a minimum of 10 years. Once information about the next application round is available, it will be posted on: https://rupco.org/plusone.
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The City of Kingston, along with partners Harambee Kingston, Old Dutch Church, and Radio Kingston, will celebrate Juneteenth with two special events.
On Friday, June 14, the City of Kingston’s Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs will host a concert at Old Dutch Church, featuring Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Music Society, a 10-piece afro-funk ensemble, with a pre-concert talk by drummer and master teacher Ubaka Hill, who also serves as the Program Coordinator at Harambee Kingston.
On Saturday, June 15, an all-day event starting at the Pine Street African Burial Ground and moving to Harambee’s African Cultural Headquarters, will feature live music, theatrical performances, children’s activities and more. Artists include Maxwell Kofi Donker and the Sankofa Dancers & Drummers, Grammy-nominated blues great Slam Allen, Oliver King portraying Frederick Douglass, Debra Zuill portraying Sojourner Truth, the Bard Jazz Band, Saints of Swing with Rene Bailey, the Women’s Drumsong Orchestra, and more.
Friday, June 14
6:30pm
Juma Sultan’s Aboriginal Music Society concert
Old Dutch Church
272 Wall Street
Saturday, June 15
12:00pm
Pine Street African Burial Ground
1:00-6:00pm
Harambee’s African Cultural Headquarters
231 Clinton Street
Live music, theatrical performances, children’s activities and more
Participants are encouraged to bring lawn chairs
All events are free and open to the public. For more information and a full line-up, visit www.harambeekingstonny.org.
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Two Kingston Housing Projects Win $15M in Grants | |
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Two projects in the City of Kingston have been awarded housing grants from the Empire State Development’s Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund, a new program aimed to increase the housing supply in the Mid-Hudson region.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Wednesday, May 29 that two shovel-ready projects located in Kingston will receive the first round of Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund grants totaling nearly $15 million:
- The Golden Hill project to transform the former Ulster County jail into a new mixed-income and mixed-use community with 164 units of affordable housing in the City of Kingston was awarded $10M.
- The Barrel Factory Apartments project to construct a 100-unit mixed-use, mixed-income development in Midtown Kingston was awarded $4.75M.
“This is a huge win for Kingston—these two major housing development projects in our city will bring 264 new, much-needed units to our housing inventory,” said Mayor Noble. “Earlier this year, I set an ambitious goal of approving 1,000 units of housing in the near 5 years. With the continued help and generous support of Governor Hochul and her own ambitious housing initiatives, I believe we will meet this goal.”
Both projects have been approved by the Kingston Planning Board. Read the Governor’s full announcement here.
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Auction for 168 Fairview Avenue | |
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The city-owned property located at 168 Fairview Avenue will be auctioned on Thursday, June 6, 2024, at 10:00am. The auction is open to the public.
The parcel at 168 Fairview Avenue, a single-family home on approximately .53 acres, will be sold to qualified bidders at a public auction at City Hall, located at 420 Broadway. in Council Chambers on June 6, 2024, at 10:00am.
The following terms and conditions will apply to the sale:
- At least 10% payable at the submission of said bid by certified check or cash made payable to the City of Kingston;
- Purchaser shall be responsible for all filing and recording fees;
- The property will be sold as is, with no guarantees;
- The highest bidder will be forwarded to the city of Kington Common Council for approval. Upon approval of the Common Council, the Housing Initiatives Office will advise the individual of the necessary information needed to complete the property transfer. The successful purchaser will be responsible for all filing fees and will have sixty days from notification to complete the transaction. Upon receipt of all monies, and signing of the closing document by the purchaser and the Mayor, the Corporation Counsel Office will prepare and file a quitclaim deed with the County Clerk’s Office;
- Interested purchasers may drive by to view the property from the street. Absolutely no entry onto the property or into the structure allowed;
- The City of Kingston reserves the right to reject all bids received.
For further info, contact the Office of Housing Initiatives at 845-334-3928.
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Live Well Kingston's Bicycle Skill Rodeo | |
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Join the Travel Well Focus Team of Live Well Kingston for a bicycle skills rodeo for all ages at Forsyth Park on Saturday, June 15th, 1-4pm.
The event will offer basic bicycle safety education on the hour. A few bicycles will be available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own. Helmet fitting and giveaways will be available.
There will also be an opportunity for public input for the design of a “traffic park”-- sometimes called a traffic garden, transportation park, or safety village – a painted surface on an abandoned tennis court at Forsyth Park that looks like a streetscape and would be geared toward users of all ages to practice their bicycle, scooter, or walking safety skills in a low-stress environment. Traffic parks are a great place to teach kids to ride. When young kids learn traffic rules, they are more likely to become better, safer users of the transportation system as they get older.
Once created, the space will be available for the public, students, and the YMCA bicycle program, and can still be used as overflow parking during events.
For project updates visit: https://livewellkingston.org/focus-teams/travel-well/kingston-traffic-park/
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The traffic park at Horizons-on-the-Hudson Elementary School in Orange County | |
Dietz Stadium Construction Update | |
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Construction is in full swing at Dietz Stadium, with several crews working simultaneously.
Perimeter site lighting poles and fixtures are being installed. Deep drilling for the goal posts, field lights, and scoreboard foundations has begun.
Metal roofing of the equipment storage building, visitor side concession, and ticket booth has started.
The grandstand tunnel opening is complete and brick veneer is starting. All interior slabs and masonry walls in the grandstand are in place, plumbing and electric rough-in is complete, window openings are being cut and prepared for installation.
Asphalt base and binder has been placed for the new track surfacing. While that is curing, the old turf is being removed and new turf installed.
Regrading and preparing for pavement in front of the pool house has started to assure the Andretta Pool opens on time for summer season.
Substantial completion is still on track for August 31, 2024.
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Dietz Stadium entrance/ticket booth construction | |
Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show | |
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Mayor Noble's weekly radio show, "It's the Mayor" airs on Tuesdays at 5pm on Radio Kingston.
This week, Mayor Noble spoke with City of Kingston Director of Health & Wellness Emily Flynn about her work on Post Office Park, Live Well Kingston, and more! Click below to hear their conversation.
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Weekly Roadwork/Infrastructure Update | |
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Wurts Street Bridge-- construction crew is scheduled to mill and pave Abeel Street on Thursday, June 6, starting at 6:30am and continuing until work is completed.
Central Hudson-- Gas main installations will continue on Wall Street, Warren Place, and Furnace Street. Service installations will continue on St James Street and Fair Street.
Post Office Park - excavation work continues forming pathways, bench areas, and bicycle pads.
Prospect Street Sewer Project - the contractor will mobilize in June.
Clinton Avenue Uptown Transportation Improvements Project -- due to additional sewer/stormwater work, project construction will not begin until early July.
Traffic advisory: this weekend is Field and Supply at Hutton Brickyards, so traffic will likely to be backed up on Delaware. The beach and Rotary Park area will likely have limited parking. Approaching from North Street will be much easier than Delaware Ave.
Weekly roadwork updates will be posted on the City website here.
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Progress at Post Office Park | |
City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities | |
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The Kingston 311 app, website, and phone system allow residents to quickly and easily report issues and submit service requests.
The Kingston 311 app, available for Android & iPhones, is a fast and simple way to connect to City officials in non-emergency situations. Photos can be attached to illustrate service orders.
This system is a valuable resource to submit municipal service requests. Examples include:
- Streetlight replacement
- City signage, including overgrowth blocking traffic signs
- Snow removal, reporting parking violations, and other snow-related issues
- Parks & playground repairs
- Report graffiti or vandalism
- Trail issues
Dial 311 from any phone within City limits to reach us, use the app or visit www.kingston-ny.gov/311/
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Sent on behalf of:
Mayor Steven T. Noble
845.334.3902
mayor@kingston-ny.gov
The purpose of this newsletter is to share important information, project updates, pictures and news from the City of Kingston. For more detailed information, visit:
www.kingston-ny.gov
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