Mayor's Message

Mayor Noble's 2025 State of the City Address

City of Kingston Awarded 3 CFA Grants for $2.78M

Kingston Snow Emergency Procedure Reminder

2025 City Updates

Indoor Pickleball Club

Weekly Roadwork/Infrastructure Update

City of Kingston Board & Commission Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

I want to address a proposal that has been put forward in the Common Council to change the definition of affordable housing in the City of Kingston’s new zoning code.

Though this may sound good – even heroic – in theory, make no mistake: housing development in Kingston will grind to a halt if the Common Council passes this zoning change.

To be clear: we all want more affordable housing. My administration has worked tirelessly to lay the foundation to actually building new housing in the City of Kingston, and most of the housing approved during my tenure has been low-income housing tax credit projects, generously supported by Federal, State and local taxpayers. This includes affordable housing at the Lace Mill, Energy Square, Landmark Place, Golden Hill, Van Dyke Apartments, and Birchwood Village. These projects have created hundreds of stable, affordable homes for Kingstonians.

I have heard the rhetoric surrounding lower cost housing, but the only way to achieve this is by building units. Without actual projects, there will be no lower cost housing. The new zoning code, which carefully calculated the affordability ratio, has been in effect for just over a year and, in that time, we have built only a handful of units. We are optimistic that there will be a growing interest in development in the years to come, but if this proposed zoning change moves forward, the extreme limitations will signal to all would-be developers that the City of Kingston does not want new housing built in our community. If we have had limited development with our current requirements, it stands to reason that tightening those requirements further will stifle development completely.

It should also be noted that Kingston was a pioneer in requiring affordability in all new development. No other New York jurisdiction, not Newburgh or Poughkeepsie or Hudson or New Paltz, mandates the level of affordability proposed by this legislation. In fact, some of these nearby municipalities have no citywide affordability requirements whatsoever. After extensive work and research, Kingston took a progressive step forward, and now that enormous success is being baselessly dubbed “not enough.”

The City’s Comprehensive Plan calls for housing at all levels of affordability. The Common Council has already endorsed this goal. If we only build low-income housing, we will not be able to grow our tax base and our municipal services will suffer as a result. We will never be able to meet the need for new housing. Residents will see their taxes increase as City revenue stagnates and costs rise. The only thing this proposed change would accomplish is place our homeowners and renters in a position where they will be paying more. Meanwhile, other municipalities that haven’t made any effort on affordability will get new market-rate accommodations, further stressing Kingston’s limited affordable housing supply.

I urge the Common Council to see past what looks good on paper and see the bigger picture of the harm this legislation would do. 

-Steve

Mayor Noble's 2025 State of the City Address

Join Mayor Noble for his annual State of the City address, which he will deliver on Tuesday, January 7 at the Common Council meeting, which begins at 7:30pm.

The Mayor's State of the City address will be delivered in Council Chambers at City Hall and will livestream via the City's YouTube channel.

Kingston Awarded 3 CFA Grants for $2.78M

The City of Kingston has been awarded three grants via the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) from the Regional Economic Council for a total of $2,783,056 in State funding.

Through the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Water Quality Improvement Project (WQIP) program, the Kingston Water Department has been awarded $1,945,600 for the Binnewater Dam Rehabilitation project to rehabilitate the Binnewater Reservoir Dam. With the funding, the City will construct a new spillway, improve slope stability, and install a seepage collection system. The project will protect the drinking water source for the City of Kingston and downstream infrastructure.

Through the Department of State’s Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP), the City of Kingston has been awarded $167,160 to update the City’s Local Waterfront Revitalization plan, which was created in 1992. The revised plan will provide a guideline for protecting and improving access to the local Hudson River, Rondout Creek, and Esopus Creek waterfronts. The community-driven document will guide sustainable and resilient development to ensure continued public access as sea levels rise and climate change impacts the waterfront area.

Through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) program, the City of Kingston has been awarded $670,296 to design and construct a community skatepark at Hasbrouck Park. The goal is to design and build a safe, dedicated site for skateboarding, inline-skating, and related activities. The community skatepark will add to the diversity of Kingston’s existing outdoor recreational amenities and will provide a safe and accessible activity for the city’s youth.

“We are thrilled to receive such generous funding from the State for three very different, but important projects,” said Mayor Noble. “We look forward to implementing this funding to protect our drinking water with vital infrastructure upgrades at the Binnewater Dam, to update our Local Waterfront Revitalization plan with community input, and to finally build the skatepark that we have dreamed of and planned for many years. These State grants are crucial for cities like Kingston to realize projects that better our health, strengthen our community, and improve our quality of life. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her continued support of Kingston and her belief in our vision for the city.”

The full list of awards can be found here.

Reminder: Kingston Snow Emergency Procedure

When a Snow Emergency is declared, the best place for your vehicles is off the street.

The City of Kingston allows alternate side parking during snow emergencies, except on Snow Emergency Routes and dead end streets. For a list of Snow Emergency Route streets, please visit https://kingston-ny.gov/snowemergency

On all other streets, parking will be permitted on the odd side of the street on odd numbered days and on the even side of the street on even numbered days. "Odd side" is the side of the street in which the house numbers are odd. "Even side" is the side of the street in which the house numbers are even. The odd or even day is determined by the calendar date.

At 7:00am the following day, vehicles must switch to the opposite side of the street.

Snow emergencies and related parking restrictions are typically in effect for at least two days in order for both sides of the street to be cleared. You must adhere to these parking restrictions and move your vehicle regardless of whether or not the weather has improved and/or the street looks clear. A separate alert will announce the end of a Snow Emergency.

For the duration of a Snow Emergency, meters are suspended and no payment is required to park on the street.

All vehicles not in compliance of Snow Emergency parking rules will be ticketed and towed.

To sign up for Snow Emergency alerts via call or text, click here.

2025 City News & Updates

• The free holiday parking period has ended. Paid parking at all City meters and kiosks has now resumed.

• Christmas trees & wreathes will be picked up curbside throughout January. Please remove all ornaments, decorations, tinsel, fasteners, lights, and stands.

• The 2025 refuse/recycling calendar is available here.

• The 2025 Fee Schedule is available here.

• Information about the 2025 City budget can be found here.

• Annual parking permits can be purchased here.

• To report an issue, use the Kingston 311 app or dial 311.



• To stay up-to-date on City of Kingston projects, visit EngageKingston.com for the latest on new and current initiatives.

Indoor Pickleball Club

Kingston Parks & Recreation's Indoor Pickleball Club is back by popular demand!

Sign-up today to reserve your spot for either the Beginner or Intermediate group at kingstonparksandrec.org

Weekly Roadwork/Infrastructure Update

Prospect Street— sewer and storm work is continuing on Prospect Street at St. James. Prospect Street will be open to local traffic only. St. James will be open with one-way flagger operation at times.

Post Office Park— in the next week or so, the construction fences will come down while additional amenities like benches, bike racks, and trash/recycling receptacles get installed.

Central Hudson— next week, crews will be working on gas main replacement work on Noone Lane.   

DPW will be doing regular maintenance and pothole repairs.

Park Office Park landscaping

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:



• Community Preservation Advisory Board
• Arts Commission
• 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/