BYE, BOWLING ALLEY
Mid-City Lanes eyed for demolition for Midtown affordable housing, commercial use replacement
A former Midtown bowling alley building is being eyed for demolition for construction of affordable housing and commercial use, according to documents.
A zoning petition submitted to the city indicates that Kingston-based RUPCO, formerly known as Rural Ulster Preservation Company, is eyeing the purchase of the former Mid-City Lanes, 20 Cedar St., to raze the building for new construction. Mid-City Lanes, which had operated at the site since 1960, closed in June 2014. Mayor Shayne Gallo said
Wednesday afternoon the project will be “transformational” for Midtown.
Gallo said the idea is to draw other groups into the plan to, among other things, establish an educational center run by the Center for Creative Learning. He also said there would be an agricultural component, space for small technology companies, a “business incubator,” and perhaps a grocery store.
Gallo said another partner in the project is likely to be the Ulster County Community Action program.
Gallo said RUPCO is poised to take advantage of tax incentives and funding offered by the state and federal governments to get the project done. He added that the project fits in with his Business, Education, Arts, and Technology or BEAT, program for Midtown.
Gallo said the complex is likely to be at least four-stories high and include at least 50 units of housing.
RUPCO has not closed on the property yet, Gallo said.
“This project is transformational and reflects three years of building partnerships of all these stakeholders who have a proven track record of success,” Gallo said.
The petition, submitted by attorney Michael Moriello, says the agency and property owner will seek to expand the property into a commercial zone that surrounds the vacant bowling alley.
The property is now located in an office zone, which would prohibit the envisioned project. The current owners of the property are Ferraro Mid-City Lanes Inc., the petition says.
The bowling alley closed in June 2014.
“The Petitioners are requesting that the subject premises be rezoned by extension of the existing C-2 Zoning District and the Mixed Use Overly District to encompass the subject premises and which extension would amend the City of Kingston Zoning Map to permit mixed use residential/commercial uses thereupon,” the petition says.
The petition adds that, because the property is being expanded to the commercial district, it would not constitute “spot zoning.”
“It is submitted that the physically developed premises does not lend itself in any manner to the office use for which it is zoned and that, as it is adjacent to the C-2 and Mixed Use Overly Districts, the extension and alteration of zoning requested herein is entirely appropriate and does not constitute spot zoning,” the petition says.
The zoning change is likely to get examination by the Common Council’s Laws and Rules Committee. A site plan review of the plans is expected to begin on Monday at a Planning Board meeting scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
Moriello’s petition says several meetings were held with Gallo about the project.
Kevin O’Connor, RUPCO’s chief executive officer, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
“This planned re-development is expected to revitalize the surrounding area and provide for future use of the premises in a manner which reflects the potential for growth and enhancement of the surrounding neighborhood,” the petition says.
“Presently, the conceptual plan consists of planned residential, commercial, civic, and cultural use, the detail of which will be articulated and examined as permitted uses under zoning in the near future,” the memo says.
RUPCO is nearing completion of a housing project at a vacant Midtown building at Cornell Street and South Manor Avenue. It is known as the Lace Mill apartment complex. The renovated building is intended to house artists.