Mayor's Message

Kingston Housing Authority Announces Name Renaming & $50M Renovation

New City Budget Tool Launched

Lights On Tonight!

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Update

Mayor Appoints Robert Dennison to Ward 6

Paving & Roadwork Update

City of Kingston Job Opportunities

Free Street Trees - Sign up!

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

Some housing related reminders: The ARPA Affordable Housing Fund is now accepting applications. We allocated $1M of ARPA funding for the Affordable Housing Fund, to incentivize the creation of new affordable housing units in Kingston. The goal is to prioritize development or renovation projects that result in the creation of housing rented at no more than 60% Area Median Income for a period of 20 years. The fund will offer grant awards of up to $60,000 per affordable housing unit. For further information, eligible fund uses, application and more, visit: www.engagekingston.com/arpa-affordable-housing.

The Right to Counsel program RFP is due next Friday, June 9. The City is seeking qualified attorneys and law firms to assist in a Right to Counsel Program to provide advice, brief service, and/or full legal representation to income-qualifying residents regarding housing issues. The City of Kingston has allocated $500,000 of its ARPA funding to support the program.

The Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) regarding the sale of two vacant City-owned properties: 38 Post St. and 20 Stephan St. are also due Friday, June 9. The RFEI is to determine the level of interest of purchasers. The property at 38 Post, in the Rondout Historic District, is a vacant warehouse with approximately 1,326 sq ft. that has been vacant since 2012. The property at 20 Stephan is a single-family home with approx. 1,100 sq ft.

The Kingston Forward 4.0, the final draft of the city-wide rezoning, has been submitted to the Common Council. This is one of the most important projects the City has tackled, and I'm very proud of this last draft. You can find the draft and more info at https://engagekingston.com/kingston-forward.

-Steve

KHA Announces Renaming & $50M Renovation

Mayor Noble and the Kingston Housing Authority are pleased to announce that the Stuyvesant Charter apartments have been renamed the Leonard and Vera Van Dyke Apartments. On Wednesday, the Kingston Housing Authority held a renaming ceremony.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Dyke were civil rights activists and active community members. Leonard served as the first Black Alderperson on the Kingston Common Council.

The $50 million restoration of the Leonard and Vera Van Dyke Apartments is already underway for the complex’s 120 units that currently house families, seniors, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. Renovations include new bathrooms, kitchens, flooring, appliances, upgraded common areas, as well as new roofing and windows. It’s only fitting that with a 50 million restoration, the apartments have a name that they can be proud of, a name that represents a commitment to service, and a dedication to community.

“This year marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Kingston Housing Authority’s service to the community,” said KHA Executive Director Benjamin O’Shea. “With the renaming of Stuyvesant Charter, the KHA Board and staff celebrate our core mission to provide safe and affordable housing to low and very low-income residents of the City of Kingston and are so pleased to launch comprehensive redevelopment efforts to preserve and improve the KHA’s entire housing portfolio for all residents in our 441 households.”

“I want to thank the KHA Board and the staff for initiating not only this much-needed renovation, but also this beautiful renaming. The Van Dykes were well known in Kingston for standing up to injustice, fighting for equality, and building up their community,” said Mayor Noble. “They broke down barriers, and I believe it’s apt that their name will be on this complex, where a strong community exists. Thanks to the Kingston Housing Authority’s passion and tenacity, many units will be renovated, to ensure that we continue to provide stable, safe, quality, and affordable housing well into the future. These are the first of many renovation projects coming to fruition, and I’m proud to work alongside the KHA and to watch these developments flourish.”

Funding for the Leonard and Vera Van Dyke Apartments renovations is from NYS Homes and Community Renewal, which provided 4% Low Income Housing Tax Credits, tax-exempt bonds, and a subordinate loan, a reinvestment from KHA, a PILOT from the City of Kingston, HUD’s support approving the Section 22 conversion of the public housing, and investments from financing partners, Hudson Capital and JP Morgan Chase, NA. 

Renovations at the Leonard and Vera Van Dyke Apartments is the first phase of the repositioning of KHA's portfolio, which also includes Rondout Gardens, Wiltwyck Gardens, Colonial Gardens and Colonial Gardens Addition.

Since 2016, Mayor Noble has helped the Kingston Housing Authority Board restructure and brought in new leadership at both the staff and Board level. Since then, the Board and agency has worked to incorporate tenant input through board seats, has worked to revamp its website, and has been open with the City and the community on its improvement plans. Past collaborative projects with the City of Kingston and the KHA include the Kingston Point Rail Trail, which is built through Rondout Gardens, and a community garden at the Rondout Gardens apartments, as well as numerous safety and security improvements in partnership with the Kingston Police Department. Currently, the City of Kingston is reviewing redevelopment plans for Rondout Gardens. 

Lights On Kingston Tonight!

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Update

Mayor Noble's Tuesday radio show is on hiatus during the campaign season, but in its place, he will be doing a weekly update on Facebook Live each Tuesday at 5:00pm to give brief update on the latest City of Kingston news.

Click below to hear this week's update.

Mayor Noble Appoints Dennison to Ward 6

Mayor Noble will appoint Robert Dennison for the Ward 6 vacancy left by Alderman Tony Davis’s retirement.

“Though the Council is losing a dedicated civil servant with Tony Davis’s retirement, I’m thrilled to appoint Bob Dennison to fill his shoes in Ward Six,” said Mayor Noble. “Bob is running unopposed in November’s election, so by appointing him to the Council now, he will start his term early, and can be a part of this year’s budget process. Bob is eager to get started serving his Ward, and we will welcome him to the Council.”

Common Council President Andrea Shaut said, “Although our charter places the authority on the mayor to fill a vacancy on the council, I am pleased that Mayor Noble recognized the importance of a collaborative approach between the two branches. I am further pleased that we came to an easy consensus on adding Robert Dennison to the Common Council to represent Ward Six. Mr. Dennison will be a great asset to Kingston with his vast experience, both professionally and as a volunteer for several city boards and commissions. I am confident that he will be ready to get to work on Day One and will deliver good work to the benefit of his ward and all of Kingston.”

Dennison said, “I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the City of Kingston as we move into a post-Covid world. Alderman Davis has served our city well in several roles and his presence in City government will be missed. I wish him well in his well-earned retirement.”

Dennison retired from the New York State Department of Transportation as Chief Engineer in 2011. He then worked as a consultant with VHB engineering in their New York office until 2020. Prior to his appointment as Chief Engineer, he served as NYDSOT Regional Director for the Hudson Valley. Throughout his 40-year career, Dennison has played an important role shaping the future of transportation and infrastructure throughout New York State. He has held positions of responsibility in Town, County and State governments.

Alderman Davis’s last day on the Council will be Tuesday, June 6, 2023. Dennison will be appointed Wednesday, June 7, 2023, and will serve on Finance & Audit and Public Safety & General Government committees.  

City Launches New Budget Tool

The City of Kingston is now utilizing a new platform, Clear Gov, for the City budget to increase transparency.

“As we head into the next budget process, we are pleased to release the 2023 adopted budget on a new platform, which gives residents a different view, with charts and graphs that may be more user friendly for the average citizen deciphering a $50M budget. Using this new technology, residents now have more than one option to review the City budget,” said Mayor Noble. “The City Comptroller, myself, and the Common Council spend weeks working on the City budget each year, and encourage the public to be a part of the process. We’re hoping by providing another tool for ready access to the budget document, the public will have more clarity into this complex document.”

Find the 2023 Budget Book at: www.engagekingston.com/budget.

With the 2023 Budget, the tax levy was reduced to the lowest level seen since 2015. The 2024 Budget process begins in August. Future adopted budgets will be available via the Clear Gov software.

Paving & Roadwork Next Week

Central Hudson: Gas main work will continue on Main St between Clinton and Wall St, Clinton Ave between Pearl St and Main St., and Fair St between Main St and Pearl St. Please expect road closures with detours

Henry Street Safe Routes to School Project: crews continue to remove the old concrete sidewalks and bluestone and prepare subgrade. Underground utilities are being repaired and/or replaced. Old lead lines are being removed and replaced with copper as they are discovered.

Sterling Street Sewer project: Sterling Street from Cedar Street to Henry Street will be closed on Thursday, June 8 and Friday, June 9, 2023, from 6am to 6pm for milling and final paving of the road.

Regular roadwork updates can be found here.

Sidewalk removal on Henry Street

City of Kingston Job Opportunities

The City of Kingston has the following full-time job openings: Motor Equipment Mechanic, Motor Equipment Operator, and Fire Inspector.

The Kingston Water Department is accepting applications for Business Manager, to oversee the Department’s Business Office. This is a full time, competitive position within the City Civil Service with an annual salary of $87,000. It is expected that the successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business management, finance or some other closely related field and have at least three years of professional financial management that includes staff supervision.

Applications are due June 23, 2023. A job description and instructions for submitting applications for this position may be obtained from the Civil Service Office in City Hall or on the City’s website at https://kingston-ny.gov/Employment.

Upcoming Civil Service Exams include:

Payroll Supervisor - July 15, 2023

The Police Officer Exam will be offered on September 9, 2023. The deadline to apply is July 7, 2023. The Physical Agility Exam will be given on July 29, 2023 - location TBD.

More information about job openings and exams is available at kingston-ny.gov/employment.

The City of Kingston has over 25 boards & commissions, and we're always looking for volunteers to serve the community. Application link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.

Free Street Tree Planting!

The City of Kingston is taking applications from home and business owners who would like to request a free street tree on their property. 

Plantings will be in the public right of way, with a commitment from property owners to ensure that the new trees are well-maintained, particularly in the early stages of planting. Species will be chosen by the Tree Commission, who will identify types of trees that will have a positive impact on biodiversity and will be the appropriate size for the planting locations.  

If you would like a street tree on your property, please fill out this form, and return to the Kingston Planning Department.