FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 8, 2023
Mayor Noble Announces an RFEI for the Sale of Two Vacant City-owned Properties
KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble and the Office of Housing Initiatives are pleased to announce that a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) has been issued regarding the sale of two vacant City-owned properties: 38 Post St. and 20 Stephan St.
The RFEI released today is a preliminary step to determine the level of interest of potential purchasers for two vacant City-owned properties. The sale of City-owned surplus properties is governed by the City of Kingston Disposition Policy, which was passed by the Common Council in April 2023. The purpose of the Disposition Policy is to encourage the redevelopment of City-owned buildings and land, bring City-owned buildings and land back on the tax rolls, and encourage the development of affordable rental and homeownership housing opportunities.
“With this Request for Expressions of Interest, we are looking to get these vacant properties back into use, and invigorating their neighborhoods,” said Mayor Noble. “I encourage all interested parties to respond. We are open to any and all ideas that restore these properties, return the parcels to the tax rolls, and help them become spaces that contribute to the vibrancy of the City.”
“I am so pleased that the Common Council passed a Surplus Property Disposition Policy, which offers a clear pathway for the City to sell vacant and abandoned properties and especially to prioritize the production of affordable housing. I urge interested parties to submit expressions of interest,” said Bartek Starodaj, the City of Kingston’s Director of Housing Initiatives.
The property at 38 Post, located in the Rondout Historic District, is a vacant warehouse with approximately 1,326 sq ft. that has been vacant since 2012. The property at 20 Stephan is a single-family home with approximately 1,100 sq ft. Tours of the properties will be given on May 23, 2023.
The RFEI can be found here. Proposals are due by June 9, 2023 at 2:00pm. Questions can be directed to Director of Housing Initiatives Bartek Starodaj at [email protected].
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, the Tiny Homes Project, short-term rental guidelines and many more. Visit https://kingston-ny.gov/housing.