Mayor's Message

Over $4M for Safe & Accessible Flatbush/Foxhall Project

Boo at the Zoo Tonight!

MHET Community Solar Program

Public Meeting for Acquisition of Property at Broadway/Garraghan

Grant for Wilbur Historic District Nomination

Scarecrow Festival Tomorrow

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Weekly Roadwork/Infrastructure Update

City of Kingston Board & Commission Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

This week, Governor Hochul signed a bill authorizing the City of Kingston to launch a speed camera pilot program for up to three local school zones.

I thank Senator Hinchey and Assemblymember Shrestha for sponsoring the Speed Zone Camera bill and ensuring its passage at the State level. Nothing is more important than the safety of our children and this bill will allow Kingston to ticket speeders in school zones automatically and will go a long way in ensuring the safety of our school children. We look forward to implementing this new technology in a pilot program as soon as possible.

A reminder about early voting! Early voting starts tomorrow at the Andy Murphy Neighborhood Center and is open daily through Sunday, November 3. Times are listed here.

Also, the Kingston Water Department has issued a Boil Water Advisory for lower Broadway due to a water main break. It is is ok to shower, bathe, and use the water for routine household tasks, but --out of an abundance of caution-- KWD recommends using boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food until further notice. Bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and cool before using.

-Steve

Over $4M for Flatbush & Foxhall Project

The City of Kingston has been awarded $4,375,000 from the NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation’s Green Resiliency Grant Program for the Safe & Accessible Flatbush & Foxhall Avenues project.

The Safe and Accessible Flatbush and Foxhall Avenues project includes the design and construction of 2.04 miles of ADA-accessible sidewalks and bicycle infrastructure on Flatbush and Foxhall Avenues and improving the two pedestrian crossings at the CSX railroad tracks. The Green Resiliency Grant funding will add bioswales and stormwater tree pits to the project, which will improve climate resiliency, reduce runoff, and protect natural resources.

The total cost of this project is estimated at $12,310,100. In addition to the new grant award, the Safe & Accessible Flatbush & Foxhall Project will be funded in part by the Climate Smart Community Grant Program, Title 15 of the Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation ($772,752), with funding from the New York State Department of Transportation ($3,590,420). The City has also requested Congressionally Directed Spending funds through Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. The request passed initial approvals and has been added to the Senate projects list to be considered for the 2025 federal budget.

Construction is tentatively expected to begin in 2026.

More about the project can be found at https://engagekingston.com/safe-and-accessible-flatbush-and-foxhall.

Examples of bioswales/green infrastructure

Boo at the Zoo Tonight!

Join the Friend of Forsyth Nature Center for the annual Boo at the Zoo Halloween event and Movie Night tonight, Friday, October 25.

Kids activities start at 5:30pm and the Movie in the Park, Despicable Me 4, will begin at 7:00pm. Bring a blanket and we will provide the popcorn!

MHET Community Solar Program

MHET is subscribing renters and homeowners with Central Hudson bills into their Community Solar program. 

Subscribers are guaranteed savings directly on their bill without installing solar panels. 

This program is free to join and free to leave. If you, someone in your household, or someone you know is eligible through Medicaid, SNAP, HEAP, Section 8, or any other assistance programs, please reach out to 845-372-1729 to sign up or to refer someone who could sign up. 

Successful referrals receive $100 gift cards - one for whoever signs up and one for whoever referred them.  

Public Meeting for Proposed Acquisition B'way/Garraghan

On Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 7:00pm in Council Chambers at Kingston City Hall, a public hearing will be held for the proposed acquisition of the approx. 3.5 acres located at Broadway and Garraghan Drive for redevelopment. This site once contained hundreds of mixed-use structures and was home to a vibrant and diverse community that was displaced by urban renewal in the 1960s. The property has remained vacant ever since. The City of Kingston proposes to develop these vacant and underutilized properties with mixed-use housing (approx. 200 units) and 30,000 square feet of commercial and non-profit space.

The proposed project would include landscaping, site work, infrastructure, and other amenities in order to return the underutilized site to productive use, to spur economic development in the area by creating employment opportunities, new housing opportunities, increased housing affordability, and revitalization. This project will decrease the negative impacts associated with large vacant parcels in one of the City’s primary business districts and will increase City property and sales tax revenues.

All interested persons are encouraged to attend the public hearing on October 29 and present their views regarding the proposed acquisition.

Written comments can be sent to the City of Kingston, c/o Housing Initiatives at 420 Broadway, Kingston, New York 12401. Written comments must be received by the close of the public hearing on October 29, 2024.

Downtown Kingston before Urban Renewal

Grant for Wilbur Historic Registry Nomination

The City of Kingston has been awarded $15,000 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to support the Wilbur Historic District National Register Nomination.

The City of Kingston will use grant funds to hire a preservation consultant to prepare a State and National Register nomination for the Wilbur Historic District. The creation of this district will allow property owners to access the State and Federal Historic Preservation Tax Credit programs (up to 50% of restoration costs) and other benefits assigned to properties listed on the registers. The area has just recently been designated as a Local Historic District by the City’s Common Council.

With a grant from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, in 2021, the City of Kingston conducted surveys of the Wilbur and Ponckhockie neighborhoods. The City engaged the professional consulting services firm Archeology and Historic Resource Services (AHRS), a recognized historic and cultural resource consulting group out of Rock Tavern, New York, to assist with the project and development of the reports, which built upon previous individual NHR/SRs and local listings, information already collected, and the Historic Buildings Inventory identified in the 1987 Urban Cultural Park Plan. More on the Wilbur Historic District survey can be found here: https://engagekingston.com/historic-survey

Festival of Scarecrows Tomorrow

Join Friends of Historic Kingston at Frog Alley Park on Saturday, October 26 from 10:00am to 2:00pm for the annual Scarecrow Festival! Scarecrows are designed by local artists, businesses and community members; artwork is by Kingston City School District Elementary Schools, and select animals from the Forsyth Nature Center will be on hand.

The event is held at the ruins of the Louw-Bogardus House adjacent to the Wiltwyck Fire Station in Uptown Kingston. Everyone is welcome at this fun, family-friendly event!

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Mayor Noble's weekly radio show, "It's the Mayor" airs on Tuesdays at 5:00pm on Radio Kingston.

This week, Mayor Noble spoke with City of Kingston Comptroller John Tuey about the 2025 City budget. Click below to hear their conversation.

Weekly Roadwork/Infrastructure Update

Clinton Avenue Intersection Improvements– sidewalks are completed, and traffic is currently returned to two-way. Next week, electrical work for traffic signal and street lighting will occur. One-way operation may be in place at during work. Paving is tentatively scheduled for November 4–8. 

Please use the new sidewalks and visit Uptown businesses!

Academy Green CDBG Park Amenities Installation—from Monday October 28 to Friday November 4, Academy Green Park will be closed for construction, including the removal of old benches and the installation of new benches and trash/recycling cans.

Paving– the final round of 2024 paving on Saint James Street and Smith Avenue was completed this week.

Central Hudson– gas main installation will continue on N Wilbur Ave, Pine St, and S. Prospect St with expected lane and/or road closures. Service replacements and/or restoration work will continue on N Wilbur Ave with possible lane closures and/or road closures.   

Central Hudson paving restoration should be completed next week with the paving of Fair Street.

Archtop Fiber– crews are working in the Clifton/Stephan/Florence/Hayes area with crews working on underground areas around Pearl and Washington St south towards Washington and Marius St. 

ADA Curb ramps – construction will continue with the installation of ADA ramps along Maiden Lane and St. James St. It is anticipated that work will be completed in November.

Prospect Street sewer project– work is continuing between Liberty and St. James. Road closed except local traffic.

Kingston Point Rail Trail – NYSDOT has completed painting the pedestrian bridge over 9W on the Kingston Point Rail trail and the trail is now re-opened.

Post Office Park— crews will be spreading topsoil and preparing landscaping features for the installation of trees and shrubs.

New sidewalks at Clinton Ave and & Main Street

City of Kingston Commission & Board Opportunities

The City of Kingston has over 25 boards & commissions, and we're always looking for volunteers to serve the community.

The following currently have openings:



• Zoning Board of Appeals
• Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission 
• Live Well Kingston Commission
• Complete Streets Advisory Council
• Conservation Advisory Council



Find the application at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/KingstonBoards.

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/