FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 1, 2023

Mayor Noble Announces Housing Grants to Create Eight Affordable Housing Units 

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that the first three ARPA Affordable Housing Fund grants to incentivize the creation of new affordable housing units in the City of Kingston have been awarded.

The projects are:

• 350 Broadway ($225,000): substantial rehabilitation of a prominent mixed-use building that has been vacant for almost 30 years
• 53 Garden Street ($85,640): substantial rehabilitation of a 7-unit residential multiplex where most of the units are currently vacant due to poor interior conditions
• 58 Clifton Avenue ($50,000): construction of an accessory dwelling unit

Across the three projects, the ARPA Affordable Housing Fund applicants will leverage other sources of funding to create a total of 13 housing units. The number of affordable units created directly by the fund will be eight.

The City of Kingston allocated $1,000,000 of its federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the Affordable Housing Fund, with the goal of prioritizing development or rehabilitation projects that result in the creation of housing rented at no more than 60% Area Median Income for a period of 20 years. The fund offers grant awards of up to $75,000 per affordable housing unit, up to $300,000 per owner or property.

“I am thrilled to see the first infusion of ARPA Affordable Housing Fund grants put into the community for the creation of much-needed affordable housing,” said Mayor Noble. “In our Economic Recovery Plan, we set aside $5,000,000 from the City of Kingston’s American Rescue Plan Act to help us launch several housing programs and it’s exciting to see these funds starting to get allocated. These three projects represent a variety of new affordable housing projects that are possible with this program.”

“I’m proud that the City of Kingston is using a portion of its ARPA funding to directly create new, affordable housing units. Importantly, as these first awards show, the City’s recently adopted form-based zoning code better enables property owners to create new housing units in the City,” said Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives.

The ARPA Affordable Housing Fund grant program is managed by the City of Kingston’s Office of Housing Initiatives. One application is needed for each property. Non-profit and for-profit developers are invited to apply. Owners may use funding to construct new housing, to rehabilitate currently vacant properties, or for adaptive reuse of nonresidential buildings.  

Grant funds may be used for essential construction or rehabilitation activities including but not limited to roof repair/replacement, upgrade of electrical systems, environmental remediation, windows, accessibility ramps, plumbing, and heating systems. Depending on the total cost of the repair, a certain number of units will be subject to the affordability restrictions for the full 20-year period.

This is a reimbursement program; award payments will be made following execution of a City/Grantee contract

and the City’s receipt, review, and acceptance of expense documentation. Following execution of a City/Grantee contract, a certificate of occupancy for the units must be received by March 31, 2025. 

Applications opened June 1, 2023, with a final application deadline of December 15, 2023.

For further information, eligible fund uses, application and more, please visit: www.engagekingston.com/arpa-affordable-housing.  

For questions about the application, eligibility, or another concern, please contact Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives at [email protected] or 845-334-3928. The City of Kingston strongly suggests that each applicant contact the Office of Housing Initiatives for a preliminary review of a project’s eligibility.

In line with the goals of the City’s ARPA Economic Recovery Plan, this program responds to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 public health emergency, focusing on the need to grow the housing supply and support housing affordability and security.

Mayor Noble established the Department of Housing Initiatives in 2020 to support housing planning in the City of Kingston. The Department manages housing-related grants, supports the construction of new market-rate and affordable housing, develops policies to protect existing residents, and addresses the connection between housing and sustainability, health, and mobility. The Department also reviews the disposition of city-owned property suitable for housing development and collaborates with local and regional housing organizations. Current projects include implementing city-wide rezoning efforts, short-term rental guidelines and many more. Visit https://kingston-ny.gov/housing.