Input sought on plan for former jail

Lawmakers will hold a hearing on a plan to repurpose the site of the former Ulster County Jail.

Ulster County lawmakers will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a proposal that would ultimately create affordable housing on lands where the former Ulster County Jail now sits.

Legislators will solicit comments on a plan to declare the property surplus county land and transfer its ownership to a yet-tobe-formed local development corporation for sale to a private developer.

The developer chosen to purchase the property will be from among several that have submitted plans to the county for affordable/workforce housing on the site. The county has received “site concepts” from at least five developers, county officials have said.

The hearing will be held at 6:20 p.m. Aug. 11 in the legislative chambers of the Ulster County Office Building, 244 Fair. St.

The Golden Hill site has been identified by Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan as one that no longer serves a county purpose and could be redeveloped for workforce and affordable housing.

The county abandoned

the Golden Hill jail building in 2007 when it opened the Ulster County Law Enforcement Center, a short distance away at 380 Boulevard (Route 32). The former jail has sat mostly vacant in the years since, though some portions of it have been used for storage and classroom space.

County Planning Commissioner Dennis Doyle has said there are about 15 acres at the site, of which 7 to 10 acres are suitable for development.

By transferring the land to a local development corporation, the county has the ability to dictate how the land is used and which developer will be selected to purchase the property.

The Legislature is expected to take up a resolution later this month to transfer the lands to the local development corporation.