Alms House plan remains divisive

Supporters of a proposal to create 66 units of senior housing at the former Alms House property on Flatbush Avenue largely relied on humanitarian-based arguments at a public meeting Monday night, while those in opposition again raised concerns about such issues as the city’s infrastructure, safety and the impact on property taxes.

The city Planning Board held a second public hearing Monday to take comments about the proposal by Kingston-based affordable housing agency RUPCO to create housing at the Alms

House site at 300 Flatbush Ave. During the meeting, 22 different speakers addressed the board, some taking more than one turn at the microphone.

The Planning Board will accept written comments on the project through the close of business on April 30.

Among the speakers Monday were four former and two current members of the Kingston Common

Council.

Seventh Ward Alderman Patrick O’Reilly, who tried unsuccessfully to return a zoning change for the Alms House property to the council for reconsideration, raised concerns about the city’s ability to provide services to the residents of the proposed facility. He said several city departments, including police and fire, already are understaffed.

“We all want to take care of people, and we want our society to be healthy and our community to be healthy,” said O’Reilly, a non-enrolled

voter. “And that requires supportive services, no doubt. But we have to be able to afford these supportive services. We can’t bankrupt the city while doing it.”

The proposal for what would be known as Landmark Place calls for 34 apartments in the existing vacant Alms House structure and 32 more units in a four-story building that would be constructed at a lower elevation on the site. The housing would be open to individuals 55 and older, and some of the units would offer support services for a mix of homeless populations

with special needs.

RUPCO would purchase the former Alms House property from the Ulster County Economic Development Agency for $950,000.

Former Alderwoman Nina Dawson, D-Ward 4, said she supports RUPCO and that there are senior citizens who need to be cared for in the community regardless of whether this project goes forward. Dawson also said she found it amazing there is so much division in the city.

“There are senior citizens that are in dire straits, and I think this project is advocating

to help senior citizens,” Dawson said. “Help from the city of Kingston would only be a positive. It would only supplement what we should be standing for here. To separate a city because you don’t want ‘those people’ in your neighborhood is, I think, really the elephant that’s not being spoken on in this room tonight.”

Former Alderwoman Deborah Brown, R-Ward 9, raised concerns about a lack of sidewalks around the Alms House property, while former Alderwoman Maryann Mills, D-Ward

7, questioned why a cemetery on the property had not been taken into consideration during review of the proposed project. Mills also said the city’s infrastructure in that area is in poor shape.

Erica Baron, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills, said it’s important for all people to have a safe, warm, dry place to live. She said the Alms House is a large building that is sitting unused and that she would feel better and safer if it was used to help house people in need.