FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 11, 2023

Mayor Noble Announces Former Chiz’s Street Property Proposed to Become Affordable Housing

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble and the Home Property Group, LLC are pleased to announce plans for redeveloping 256 Washington Avenue, the former Chiz’s House property, into an affordable housing complex with up to 60 housing units.

The project will include a gut renovation and complete rehabilitation to modernize the property, including new plumbing, electrical system, windows, and energy efficient HVAC systems. The original boarding house rooms will be renovated to include bathrooms and kitchenettes, and the property will include an on-site manager’s office. Several studio units will be made adaptable for persons with physical disabilities.

Working closely with City of Kingston officials since the project’s inception, the development team has secured a long-term lease with Family of Woodstock to occupy the entire premises, including on-site support, ensuring long-lasting affordability. All rents will be affordable to residents making below 80% Area Median Income.

“This is a great opportunity for redevelopment, and I am so pleased that this project will be 100 percent affordable,” said Mayor Noble. “The developers’ partnership with Family of Woodstock will provide much needed supportive housing to Uptown Kingston.”

Scott Rosen of the Home Property Group, said, “We are employing local architectural, engineering, and contracting services to deliver a best-in-class project to a greatly underserved part of the community and a brighter future for a once blighted property. As the owners of other properties in the neighborhood, we are committed to managing and maintaining the development at 256 Washington to the highest of standards.”

Michael Berg, Executive Director of Family Woodstock said, “Family of Woodstock Inc. is excited to join Home Property Group in opening 50 affordable housing units over the next few months to help address the crisis in affordable housing. We will be providing Permanent Supported and Rapid Rehousing services to individuals who are or have recently been homeless, and services to promote stability and move towards self-sufficiency.”

“I look forward to working with Home Property Group, Family of Woodstock, and other City Departments to move this important affordable housing project forward,” said Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives.

The developers will present the project to the City of Kingston Planning Board on Monday, September 18, 2023, to start the approval process and finalize the site plan.

Mayor Noble established the Department of Housing Initiatives in 2020 to support housing planning in the City of Kingston. The Department manages housing-related grants, supports the construction of new market-rate and affordable housing, develops policies to protect existing residents, and addresses the connection between housing and sustainability, health, and mobility. The Department also reviews the disposition of city-owned property suitable for housing development and collaborates with local and regional housing organizations. Current projects include city-wide rezoning efforts, short-term rental guidelines, the ARPA Affordable Housing Fund, the Emergency Tenant Protection Act, the Midtown Brownfields Opportunity Area, the Disposition of City-owned properties, and many more. Visit https://kingston-ny.gov/housing.