Mayor's Message

Mayor Announces ARPA Business Hardship Grant

Midtown Thriving Initiative Community Engagement

Hispanic Heritage Festival on Saturday

Midtown Linear Park Movie on Sunday

Open Call for Artwork for City Hall Exhibition

Spotted Lanternfly Information

Mayor Noble's Tuesday Radio Show

Weekly Roadwork/Infrastructure Update

City of Kingston Board & Commission Opportunities

Mayor's Message:

Dear Friends -

We are proud of the infrastructure projects that we have been able to undertake with the once-in-a-lifetime infusion of $17M in ARPA funding, which went directly into our community. From supporting the major renovation at Dietz Stadium, which is now open to the public for daily use, to the ongoing work on Clinton Avenue, which will greatly improve pedestrian access to Uptown Kingston, these projects will improve our city and our lives.

However, we know that local businesses have been impacted by some of these projects. We want to make sure that our local businesses, which are the lifeblood of our community, can survive these disruptions and are able to thrive once these projects are completed. I encourage any business affected by one of our infrastructure projects to apply as soon as possible.

-Steve

ARPA Business Hardship Grant Program

The City of Kingston has allocated $30,000 from the City’s federal American Rescue Plan Act award to fund a Business Hardship Grant Program.

The Business Hardship Grant Program was created to support local small businesses adversely affected by infrastructure projects that were funded, or partially funded, through ARPA, including Post Office Park, Dietz Stadium Improvement Project, Clinton Avenue Intersection Improvements Project, Henry Street Safe Routes to School project, and the city-wide ADA-compliant curb ramps project.

Grants in the amount of $7,500 will be awarded to applicants who can demonstrate their business was adversely impacted by ARPA-funded infrastructure construction. To be awarded, applicants must provide documentation showing that revenue dropped during construction periods. Applications are due Wednesday October 16, 2024.

Grant funds may be used for payroll and benefits; rent; mortgage; utilities; payments for equipment; product inventory; signage; technical assistance, counseling or other services to assist with business planning needs.

Details and application at www.engagekingston.com/arpa-business-hardship. 

Midtown Thriving Community Engagement

The City of Kingston’s Midtown Thriving initiative was selected as one of four nationwide pilot projects by the Full Frame Initiative.

Full Frame Initiative (FFI) is a social change organization that partners with organizations, systems, and communities across the county to fundamentally shift their focus from fixing problems to fostering wellbeing.

The primary objective of the Midtown Thriving collaboration is to explore how the City of Kingston can evaluate the well-being benefits and tradeoffs of potential infrastructure projects, leading to better local decisions about how, when, whether, and what is built.

As part of the FFI and City of Kingston collaboration, a group of “credible messengers” will be doing intensive outreach throughout the Midtown neighborhood. The project outreach includes a public survey now available in English and Spanish that can be found here. The survey will close on November 3. The results of the survey will be shared on December 5, 2024. 

In November 2023, the City of Kingston, in partnership with Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, won a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) grant for $238,559 from the New York Department of State. With the funding, the City and Pattern for Progress will create Midtown Thriving: A Community Vision to Revitalize Vacant Properties, a plan for the redevelopment of vacant and abandoned properties within a 270-acre area running along the Broadway corridor. The project officially kicked off in April 2024.

The final plan will be submitted to the State to complete the BOA nomination. Designation as a BOA by the State will give development in the area priority and preference for State programs, eligibility for pre-development funding, and it will unlock additional brownfield cleanup program tax credits for property owners and developers.

More information at https://engagekingston.com/midtown-thriving. 

2024 Hispanic Heritage Festival on Saturday

The 4th annual Hispanic Heritage Festival will be held on Saturday, October 5 from 11:00am-5:00pm on Franklin Street in Midtown Kingston. See you there!

Midtown Linear Park Movie on Sunday

On Sunday, the Midtown Business Alliance and the Kingston Film Foundation will host a movie night on the Midtown Linear Park section behind Red Owl. Food from Masa Midtown and Samosa Shack starting at 6:00pm and the movie Moonstruck will start at 7:00pm.

Attendees are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets. This FREE event is open to the public. Don't miss out on this special night in the heart of Midtown!

Open Call for Artwork for City Hall Exhibition

The deadline for an open call for artwork submissions for an exhibition at City Hall entitled, FREEDOM is October 25, 2025.

The concept of the exhibition was developed as a part of the major installation of sculptor Trina Greene’s Sojourner Truth: First Step to Freedom statue, which will be on display in City Hall from September 28, 2024 through August 2025. For the FREEDOM exhibition, artists are invited to submit work that celebrates and visually represents Sojourner Truth’s legacy as a champion for freedom, justice, and women’s rights.

Selected works will be displayed in the ground floor gallery space at City Hall from December 2024 to August 2025. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2024. 

Artists are invited to submit an artwork in response to the theme FREEDOM via the online application or in person/by mail to the Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs, 420 Broadway, Kingston, NY, 12401 by October 25, 2024.

Works will be selected by a review panel comprised of members of the Kingston Arts Commission and the Kingston arts community. Additional information on submission requirements is available at https://www.kingston-ny.gov/exhibitions.

More about Sojourner Truth: First Step to Freedom can be found here:https://engagekingston.com/sojourner-truth-first-step-to-freedom.

Spotted Lanternfly Information

The Spotted Lanternfly has reached Kingston. Spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect pest from Asia that primarily feeds on trees of heaven (Alianthus altissima) but can also feed on a wide variety of plants such as grapevine, hops, maple, walnut, and fruit trees. While the full impacts are unknown, the insect will negatively impact the agricultural and tourism industries and may impact New York's forests.

Signs of an Infestation

• Sap oozing or weeping from tiny open wounds on tree trunks, which appears wet and may give off fermented odors.
• One-inch-long egg masses that are brownish-gray, waxy and mud-like when new. Old egg masses are brown and scaly.
• SLF excrete liquid waste called honeydew that builds up under plants, sometimes encouraging the growth of black sooty mold.

How You Can Help

• Squash the bug when you see one!
• Inspect outdoor items such as firewood, vehicles, and furniture for egg masses.
• If you visit other states with SLF, be sure to check all equipment and gear before leaving. Scrape off any egg masses.
• Destroy egg masses by scraping them into a bucket of hot, soapy water or a baggie/jar of hand sanitizer.

More info at https://dec.ny.gov/nature/animals-fish-plants/spotted-lanternfly.

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 Bartek Starodaj, the City of Kingston's Director of Housing Initiatives about the history of urban renewal in the Rondout and the proposed acquisition of 3.5 acres between Broadway and Garraghan Drive, the City’s application to the Federal Reconnecting Communities grant program to redesign 9W, the latest on the efforts to study the addition of housing at the Kingston Business Park, the Midtown Thriving project, 25 Field Court, and short-term rentals.

Click below to hear their conversation.

Weekly Roadwork/Infrastructure Update

Clinton Avenue Intersection Improvements– work is continuing in the Clinton/Albany intersection. Work will start on the west side of Clinton for new curb and sidewalks. 

Traffic pattern remains one way on Clinton from Westbrook to Albany Avenue. 

Paving-- the final round of 2024 paving will be Saint James Street from Broadway to Green Street and Smith Avenue from Garden Street to Albany Avenue. Milling is scheduled to begin later in the week of October 15 with paving to be completed by Friday, October 25, weather depending. 

Central Hudson—service replacements will continue on Fair St. between Henry St and Greenkill Ave.

Gas main installation will take place on S. Wall St and S. Wall St and S. Pine St. with possible lane closures and/or road closures. 

ADA Curb Ramps—construction will continue down Smith Avenue to Downs and Elmendorf intersections.

This project includes 58 new ADA Ramps along Cornell St, Smith Ave, Maiden Ln, and St James Street, and is anticipated to be completed in November.

Prospect Street sewer project– sewer work continues between Liberty and St. James. No parking will be allowed on this section. 

Post Office Park-- construction has started again. Concrete amenities including a bench and art pedestals will be poured in the coming weeks. After that, soil, mulch, trees, perennials, and shrubs will be planted. 

Kingston Point Rail Trail – NYSDOT has closed the pedestrian bridge over 9W on the Kingston Point Rail trail for painting. A detour is in place through mid-October. 

Weekly roadwork updates will be posted on the City website here.

New Clinton Avenue plantings

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/