FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2021 

New City of Kingston Director of Housing Initiatives Hired

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce the new Director of Housing Initiatives for the City of Kingston, Kevin Corte, will start on March 1, 2021. 

Kevin Corte is a Kingston resident and urban planner with years of experience in development, environmental review, and housing initiatives. From 2016 to 2019, Kevin worked for New York City, as a planner in the city’s Environmental Assessment and Review Division and then as a policy advisor to the New York City Council’s Land Use Committee. In these roles, Corte ensured that major private developments and city-sponsored projects analyzed neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, equity, and overall quality of life. During his time with the City Council, Corte helped draft new rules that prevented out-of-context buildings in historic neighborhoods, preserved scarce open space in undeveloped areas of the city, and identified areas suitable for smart growth. He has also worked in both environmental review and housing development in the private sector. 

The City of Kingston’s first Director of Housing Initiatives, Michael Gilliard, is now serving as the full-time Executive Director for the Kingston City Land Bank. As Director, Corte will focus on furthering City of Kingston housing programs and policy initiatives, including implementing the Anti-displacement Grant, the zombie property grant, and seeking other avenues to increase affordable housing while working with those in the community who share our goal of housing for all. 

“We are happy to welcome Kevin Corte to the City of Kingston staff as our new Director of Housing Initiatives,” said Mayor Noble. “Kevin’s unique experience in housing development, environmental review, and policy creation make him an ideal candidate to lead our housing efforts. I look forward to working with Kevin to accomplish our important and growing housing efforts.” 

“There’s no doubt that Kingston is being challenged by a housing shortage,” said Corte. “Rents are rising and the threat of displacement is very real. In this new role, I want to focus on policies that can deliver affordable housing for Kingston residents. I believe that we can address the city's affordability problems by focusing on neighborhood-first solutions. That means helping homeowners afford to stay in their homes, providing high-quality housing for tenants, and providing long term housing solutions for our city’s most vulnerable residents. I’m excited to hit the ground running, helping to build on all of the city's recent improvements, from connected trails to active and inviting public spaces.”