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Plans to demolish the Pike Plan canopies in Kingston have been temporarily halted due to a legal injunction. The state Appeals Court issued a preliminary injunction on Monday (March 10) in response to a request from developer Neil Bender’s William Gottlieb Real Estate, preventing the demolition of the canopies on Wall Street and North Front Street until a hearing scheduled for August. Mayor Steve Noble had planned to use $1.2 million from city funds for the demolition as early as April.
The court's decision is a setback for Mayor Noble's plan, which aimed to remove the deteriorating structures that he described as unwanted remnants of the Urban Renewal Era. According to the Daily Freeman, the injunction prevents any demolition, damage, or removal of the canopies until the court determines the legality of the city's actions.
William Gottlieb Real Estate has been advocating for the preservation of the canopies, arguing that they are historically significant and that the city failed to maintain them properly. The developer's lawsuit claims that the demolition could expose hazardous materials, such as asbestos, and that the city did not adequately review the environmental impacts of the project under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). The firm also accuses the city of violating open meeting laws by conducting discussions behind closed doors.
Mayor Noble defended the city's actions, stating that the demolition plan was necessary due to the canopies' poor condition and high maintenance costs. He expressed confidence that the city would ultimately prevail in court. The legal battle over the canopies continues, with the next court hearing set for August.