City submits plan for using $10M grant

But spending proposals not disclosed

The city’s plan for spending a state grant of nearly $10 million has been submitted to the New York Department of State.

Megan Weiss-Rowe, Kingston’s director of communication and community engagement, said Wednesday that the Strategic Investment Plan for spending the Downtown Revitalization Initiative money was submitted by the city in March. But Weiss-Rowe did not respond to a request for information about what’s in the plan.

“We submitted everything requested for our Strategic Investment Plan,” Weiss-Rowe said in an email. “... This is has been an incredible process, and we look forward to hearing back from state in the near future.”

The Department of State must approve the city’s spending plan before it can be implemented.

The funding for Kingston was announced last September by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Despite

its name — Downtown Revitalization Initiative — the grant is earmarked for improvements to Uptown Kingston’s Stockade District.

The city held public meetings and issued a survey about how the money should be spent, with residents asked to select from 11 priority projects identified by a body called the Local Planning Committee. The 11 projects are: • Upgrading to Dietz Stadium and the Andretta Pool.

• A proposed mixed-used development called The Kingstonian, made up of residential units, commercial space, lodging, a pedestrian plaza and a parking garage.

• Repairing the Volunteer Fireman’s Hall and Museum.

• Implementing key recommendations of the Uptown Stockade Transportation Plan, including addressing problem intersections, replacing sidewalks and reversing street directions to improve traffic flow.

• Implementing the Kingston wayfinding plan by purchasing and installing signs that allow travelers to navigate the city’s Stockade District easily.

• Improving Academy Green Park, including the replacement of sidewalks, new park furnishings, landscaping and upgrades to electricity and plumbing.

• Launching a structural investigation and mapping procedure with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to address the recategorization of the Uptown levee, intended to provide relief to property owners in the Kingston Plaza area.

• Upgrading and stabilizing the historic remnants on Frog Alley, ultimately creating a public space with interpretive signs, landscaping and other amenities.

• Reconfiguring Schwenk Drive by using a “complete streets” approach, including reconfiguring travel lanes, making signal upgrades, improving disability access, creating a new two-way bicycle lane (westbound) and creating a new parking lane (eastbound).

• Assisting businesses and residents through the expansion of the city’s Residential Rehabilitation Program and the availability of a commercial façade program.

• Launching a coordinated print and digital media marketing campaign.

TANIA BARRICKLO — DAILY FREEMAN FILE Some of the state grant money could go toward a proposed residentialcommercial project called The Kingstonian, which would be in this building at the corner of Fair and North Front streets.