Mayor's Message

City of Kingston Black History Month Finale Event

Women's History Month

Post Office Park Small Monument Competition

Live Well Kingston's Family Cooking Class

City of Kingston Seeks Proposals for Momentum Fund

Dietz Stadium Construction Update

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

City of Kingston Job Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

This week, we were excited to launch a Small Monument Competition to create a statue, sculpture, or other work of art that will be permanently installed in Post Office Park, the new Midtown park currently being constructed at Broadway, Prince and Grand Street.

During the public engagement phase for the new park’s design, community members voiced that they would like to see an installation that pays homage to the lost post office, and to serve as a reminder that the City’s architectural assets must be preserved for future generations. We are looking for works that fit this criterion – and are open to all ideas. Help us spread the word!

Project Manager Jack Schoonmaker gave us a tour of the construction site at Dietz Stadium this week, to update City officials and members of the school board on the progress. We were all pleased to see the significant work that has been done to date, and that the project is currently on schedule for substantial completion by August 31, in time for the school’s fall sports events. I want to thank Jack and all the contractors who have worked through the winter to keep this enormous project moving forward.

-Steve

Black History Month Event at City Hall

Last night, City Hall hosted a special Black History Month finale event, in partnership with Ulster County and the A.J. Williams-Meyers African Roots Center, “Honoring the Dream: From Our Ancestors to Us," featuring the Bard Conservatory Jazz Ensemble performing compositions from the civil rights era, and a talk by renowned civil rights attorney Michael Sussman.

Thank you to our partners, the student jazz ensemble, and all those who came out to this wonderful event! It was a wonderful celebration to honor Black History Month in our community.

Women's History Month

March is Women's History Month in the City of Kingston! Read Mayor Noble's Proclamation below.

Post Office Park Monument Competition

Mayor Noble is pleased to announce the launch of a Small Monument Competition, coinciding with the current construction of the Post Office Park at Broadway and Grand Street.

The City of Kingston has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to gather proposed concepts for a monument or sculpture design, which would be fabricated and permanently installed in Post Office Park. Applicants must provide concepts that pay homage to the memory of the lost post office that once stood on the site and was torn down during urban renewal in 1970. Built between 1904-1908, the post office was a notable limestone and granite structure with a rounded façade and Classical and Beaux Arts design elements.

Post Office Park’s design/construction plans include two 3 feet by 3 feet round cement pedestals for the support of artwork. The City requests proposals from interested individuals, companies, or partners, including but not limited to sculptors, architects, fabricators and other types of designers and manufacturers, to create and build a small monument for permanent placement on one of the pedestals. Artwork for the second pedestal will be selected in a separate future program. Applicants may identify which pedestal is more suitable for their design. The full RFP outlining the details and requirements is located here.

The competition deadline is Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The winning design is expected to be announced in June. Funding for the Post Office Park Small Monument Competition comes from the City of Kingston’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

Details at https://engagekingston.com/post-office-park-small-monument-competition. 

Live Well Kingston's Family Cooking Class

Live Well Kingston Commission, as part of the Kingston Eats campaign, is hosting another free cooking workshop! This hands-on workshop is for kids (ages 7+) with an adult and is being led by Kingston’s talented chef, Aditi Goswami, owner of Calcutta Kitchens. Learn to cook a new meal - Okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancakes), Napa cabbage soup, and a mango dessert!

This workshop will be all about celebrating the Kingston Eats March’s veggie and fruit of the month- cabbage and mango in a joyful way and sharing a delicious meal together.

Space is limited, registration is required. Register here: https://ulster.cce.cornell.edu/.../2024/03/19/kingston-cooks

City Seeks Proposals for NYS's Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund

The City's Office of Grants Management will be gathering proposal concepts for the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund (MHMF) program, which provides grant assistance to mixed-use housing and infrastructure projects throughout the Mid-Hudson region.

The $150 million Empire State Development Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund is specifically designed to address the strain caused by the local population increase exacerbated by COVID. With regional housing stock availability at less than 1% last year, the MHMF is directly addressing the need for new housing development. The program focuses on mixed-use housing and infrastructure projects that will have lasting impacts in the Mid-Hudson Region and that meet the strategic goals of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council’s strategic plan. This includes projects that have garnered community support, will result in increased affordable housing, leverage non-State investment, are financially sound, and can begin quickly.

“The State has recognized our region’s housing shortage and that the increasing demands on aging infrastructure systems often present challenges in development,” said Mayor Noble. “We appreciate this investment in the Hudson Valley that will address both issues at once. I encourage anyone with ideas to fill out our form – even if you plan to apply separately from the City of Kingston, this way we can work together to put the best application forward. An example of a partnership might be adding City sewer infrastructure to a property or retrofitting a nearby road. At this point we are collecting ideas so that the City can provide partnership and/or support when beneficial. As a newly designated Pro-Housing Community, applications from the City of Kingston will receive priority.”

MHMF funding may cover the costs of new construction or improvements to essential building elements.

Eligible uses of funds includes:

• Construction, expansion, and rehabilitation of facilities
• Equipment/machinery
• Infrastructure and site development
• Design/engineering related to construction 

Property owners or organizations with project ideas are encouraged to fill out this form, which will be open until Monday, March 11, 2024. 

More information about the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund at https://esd.ny.gov/momentum. 

Dietz Stadium Construction Update

The Dietz Stadium construction project is currently at approximately 35% completion and is on track with the master schedule. Uncovered rock removal slowed the demolition and mass grading process, but mild winter weather has helped the project stay on track.

Mass re-grading of the site has progressed to complete the loop around the entire site. Rock removal from the site continues with total rock exportation at 2260cy (142 truckloads) to date. Concrete footings and foundation walls for the new ticket booth, visitor concessions, and visitor side storage building have been installed and the new concrete slabs are nearly complete. 

Asbestos abatement was completed within the grandstand first and the interior grandstand demolition is now complete. New interior footings and foundation walls have been poured and the structural supports for the new field-side access tunnel are installed. Grandstand exterior demolition and preparation of the concrete and brickwork is finished. New storm water and sewer lines have been installed to the Joys Lane connection, and installation of the new water main from Lucas Avenue is continuing. Electrical and plumbing work is ongoing. Necessary removal of aged and distressed trees has been completed to allow for new sustainable green infrastructure to be installed along with over 125 new trees.

The construction pace will pick up substantially this spring. The remaining contractors will be mobilizing soon to replace the turf and track and install the field lighting and scoreboard. 

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Mayor Noble's weekly radio show is back! "It's the Mayor" airs on Tuesdays at 5pm on Radio Kingston. This week, Mayor Noble spoke with Kitt Potter, the City of Kingston's Director of Arts &Cultural Affairs.

Click below to hear their conversation!

City of Kingston Job & Board Opportunities

The City of Kingston is hiring! The following positions are currently open: 

Building Inspector

Senior Building Inspector

Motor Equipment Mechanic 

Upcoming Civil Service Exams include:



Project Manager on April 13, 2024

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator/Trainee on April 13, 2024

More information available at https://kingston-ny.gov/employment.

The City of Kingston is seeking residents to serve on Kingston’s Rent Guidelines Board.

On July 28, 2022, the City of Kingston declared a housing emergency and formally opted into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA), and in doing so, is required to maintain a Rent Guidelines Board. The Rent Guidelines Board is made up of two tenant representatives, two property owner representatives, and five members of the public. There is currently one vacancy for a member of the public​​.

The Rent Guidelines Board meets annually and as needed to set guidelines for rent adjustments. The Division of Housing and Community Renewal assists the Board in making its annual determination.

Applicants must have at least five years of experience in finance, economics, or housing. Board members must be residents of the City of Kingston. The deadline to apply is Friday, March 8, 2024.

The application is at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/rentguidelinesboard.

For more information on the eligibility requirements for the Board, click here. 

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

Currently there are openings on:

• Zoning Board of Appeals
• Kingston Housing Authority
• Complete Streets Advisory Council
• Conservation Advisory Council

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/