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The Ulster County Legislature has approved the transfer of county-owned property at 21 Elizabeth Street in Kingston to the county Housing Development Corporation. This decision, made on Tuesday (July 15), paves the way for the development of a new 15-unit affordable housing cooperative on the site of a former boarding house.
The property, purchased with $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, faced some criticism regarding its acquisition process. However, legislators ultimately agreed that redeveloping the site would help address the housing shortage in the area. Legislator Eric Kitchen, a former Kingston building inspector, supported the project, stating that affordable cooperative ownership would revitalize the neighborhood and foster community pride.
County Executive Jen Metzger expressed satisfaction with the approval, emphasizing that the project would provide affordable home ownership to local families and seniors while returning the property to the tax rolls. Although the legislative vote grants approval for the transfer, the property will not be conveyed until legal and administrative steps are finalized.
The resolution's approval by the full Legislature follows an earlier endorsement by the Housing and Transportation Committee, as reported by the Mid Hudson News and Daily Freeman. This project marks a significant step in addressing housing needs in the Hudson Valley region.