Disappointed in district’s opposition to Kingstonian
Dear Editor,
I’m saddened by the Kingston school district’s recent action against the Kingstonian project in Uptown Kingston.
Having served for three terms on the Kingston Common Council — two years as majority leader and chair of the Finance Committee, representing the Uptown business district and adjoining neighborhoods — I know how important this project is to small businesses struggling to stay open and to residents suffering under the stress of a strained housing market. During my time as alderman for the Second Ward, we approved PILOT agreements with local developers, the most prominent being RUPCO’s Lace Mill project at 165 Cornell St. The Kingston City School District did the same.
The Kingstonian will deliver a long-sought solution to the parking dilemma that has plagued Uptown for years, and will create a built-in market for our businesses to sell to — over 300 people living, shopping and eating within a walkable community! The city of Kingston and our government leaders have been working to deliver these benefits for over a decade! Additionally, new housing opportunities, both affordable and market-rate, will help to soften the housing vacancy rate in the community, relieving upward stress on housing prices for everyone looking to buy homes.
I’m old enough to remember when the school district came to the community and asked for our support to build the new Second Century Project addition to Kingston High School. Recognizing that a thriving school district is critical to the health of a community, we obliged. Just a few short years later, we went to the Board of Education for support of a project that would deliver dramatic and sustained community benefits, and were turned down.
This one-way relationship is unhealthy for our community. Both the Ulster County Legislature and Kingston Common Council have recognized the value this project — by well-respected local developers — will bring to our area.
I encourage the IDA to move forward with the Kingstonian so we can finally realize the community and economic benefits we’ve sought for over a decade.
Tom Hoffay Kingston, N.Y.
The writer is a former Kingston city alderman.