FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 8, 2026

Mayor Noble Announces Development Partner for

65-77 N. Front St. Property

Gemion Consulting and Rockabill Development to Redevelop Site into Mixed-use, Affordable Multifamily Housing

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that the City of Kingston has selected a development partner for the city-owned property at 65–77 North Front for the creation of an approximately 50-unit, fully affordable development with mixed-use storefronts.  As planning advances, the project team will carefully evaluate opportunities to maintain public parking access while supporting the site’s long-term redevelopment goals.

Gemion Consulting LLC and Rockabill Development LLC have been selected as the City’s development partner. Gemion Consulting is a minority- and women-led real estate consulting and development firm specializing in high-quality affordable multifamily housing. Rockabill Consulting & Development has experience with the development of more than 14,000 residential units across New York, with expertise in affordable housing. Rounding out the development team is WRT Architects, Arden Consulting, Langan Engineering, and AHC General Contracting.

Mayor Noble said, “When we released the Request for Proposals, we were looking for an innovative concept to help us return this parcel of N. Front Street to the original look and feel of a historic Main Street, while adding housing and storefront space. We are pleased to partner with Gemion and Rockabill in what we believe will be a hugely beneficial addition to the Stockade Historic District, and that will retain some of the existing parking at the site.”

The development team will use its extensive knowledge of affordable housing financing programs to execute this project, with an affordability program between 30-80% AMI to create a mixed-income community. Throughout the feasibility and design process, the team will evaluate a range of approaches to accommodate public parking and address community needs. Additional project details and opportunities for public input will be announced as planning continues.

“We are thrilled to have been selected to redevelop 65–77 North Front Street. The opportunity to create approximately 50 affordable homes in Kingston’s historic Stockade District is both exciting and meaningful. We’ve assembled a team of designers, engineers, and builders with deep experience and local perspective to deliver a project that not only provides much-needed housing but also respects the unique character of this historic neighborhood and the needs of the surrounding community. We look forward to working closely with the City of Kingston and local stakeholders to create a development that contributes to the vitality of Uptown Kingston.”                                                                  

In December 2025, the City of Kingston issued a Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) to partially or fully redevelop the municipal parking lot at 65-77 N. Front Street, an approximately 0.7-acre site in the Uptown Business District.

The lot was created in the 1960s after several mixed-use buildings on the site were demolished. The site is located within the Stockade Historic District, listed at the local, state, and national levels in 1975, and is subject to review by the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission. Under the City’s recently adopted form-based zoning code, the site is zoned as T5 Main Street. This allows for a wide variety of uses and building types and for higher density residential and/or mixed-use development.

The City recognizes that the existing municipal lot is well used by visitors and residents of the Uptown Business District, and public parking plays an important role in supporting the economic vitality of Uptown businesses. While the primary objective is to unlock the site’s development potential, the City prioritized proposals that thoughtfully incorporated public parking access.

Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives, said, “Kingston continues to face a significant need for affordable housing, and this project presents an opportunity to create new homes for local residents in a walkable location. We recognize the importance of public parking to Uptown businesses, residents, and visitors, and this experienced development team will be carefully evaluating options to preserve parking access while advancing the broader community benefits of this investment. I am proud to serve a City that continually seeks to maximize the public benefit of the properties it owns, and this project is no exception. By creating affordable housing, activating a key site in Uptown with new mixed-use development, and carefully evaluating opportunities to maintain public parking access, this project reflects our commitment to making the most of public assets for the benefit of current residents.”

More about the project at www.engagekingston.com/front-street-redevelopment. 

The nearby city-owned N. Front/Crown Street parking lot is not part of this project. The City has no plans to develop this property.

This property is part of a series of efforts by the City to build housing on publicly owned sites, including 615 Broadway, 25 Field Court, and the Kingston Business Park.

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. Visit https://kingston-ny.gov/housing.