FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kingston, NY – The Kingston City Land Bank (KCLB) is pleased to announce the opportunity to purchase two fully renovated, affordable single-family homes located at 237 E. Union Street and 63 German Street. These 3-bedroom homes are currently undergoing extensive renovations, including energy efficiency upgrades and new windows, kitchens, bathrooms and heating/cooling systems. Construction is expected to be completed by July 2023.
These two homes are part of New York State’s Legacy Cities ACCESS Program. Both homes were formerly vacant properties foreclosed on by the City and purchased by the KCLB for the full price of back taxes.
“As the first organization to utilize the Legacy Cities ACCESS program, we are excited to offer these beautifully renovated homes to the community at an affordable price,” says Bob Dennison, Chair of the KCLB’s Acquisition, Disposition and Construction Committee. “We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to own a home, and we are committed to making that dream a reality for as many people in our community as possible. We also recognize and appreciate the legislature and Governor for creating this amazing program.”
“For two years the KCLB has worked faithfully towards this moment: the opportunity to offer two wonderful homes for sale below market-rate,” says Aron Chilewich, Chair of the KCLB’s Communications and Fundraising Committee. “We look forward to spreading the word of our marketing campaign to prospective buyers and, later this year, to proudly handing over the keys to the homes’ new owners.”
“We congratulate the Kingston City Land Bank on moving swiftly to implement their recently announced Legacy Cities Access grant, and thank the NYS Division of Homes & Community Renewal for continuing to invest in Kingston,” says Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. “I am so pleased to see the Land Bank work so diligently to transform these formerly vacant houses into beautiful homes and look forward to seeing them sold to first-time homebuyers from the community.”
“This is a golden opportunity,” says Alderman Steve Schabot, Alderman for Ward 8. “In my district and our City, owning an affordable home has become increasingly difficult. I look forward to seeing these properties returned to productive use for our community.”
Homes are available to first-time homebuyers, and each home will have a maximum cash purchase price of $194,995.* Homeownership Counseling will be provided by PathStone of Newburgh. The homes will be sold through a lottery system, and the application period will end on March 18, 2023. First-time homebuyers interested in learning more about the opportunity and starting an application can begin the process by visiting KCLB.org/homes.
Click HERE for our public notice flyer in English and Spanish. Click HERE for our planned finishes, floor plans and historical photos!
*Cash Purchase Price is dependent on numerous factors including but not limited to final interest rate, NYS HCR down payment assistance, and additional subsidies, and including enforcement debt, based on credit and due diligence factors and all subject to qualifications and availability.
**Income limits set using 2022 Area Median Income figures for Ulster County
The Kingston City Land Bank was formed in collaboration with the City of Kingston for the purpose of acquiring title to tax-foreclosed and other distressed properties, removing barriers to redevelopment, and returning properties to the tax rolls. Our mission is to foster an equitable community where vacant or distressed properties are transformed into community assets that improve the quality of life for Kingston residents, stabilize and enhance neighborhoods, and create new pathways for social and economic development.
For more information about the KCLB and to join our mailing list for updates, visit KCLB.org and follow us on Instagram at @kingstoncitylandbank
For the first time in 5 (!) years, the Kingston Common Council is considering a resolution to allow the KCLB to purchase 3 vacant, foreclosed single family homes and create new affordable housing. We cannot continue to provide affordable homes for our community without properties to rehab, so please contact your elected officials TODAY and urge them to support our work!
Feel free to use the sample language below as a guide for urging your local representative to support the resolution, and be sure to add your own personal touch!
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Dear Alderman/Alderwoman _____________________,
As one of your constituents and a member of the Kingston community, I am writing to urge you to support the resolution providing for three vacant and foreclosed properties to the Kingston City Land Bank.
Since 2020, KCLB’s activities have created the only affordable homeownership opportunities in Kingston, and their most recently completed affordable home was sold late last year. This resolution is necessary so that KCLB can continue its mission of acquiring/rehabilitating vacant/distressed properties, and creating much needed affordable housing. I strongly urge you to support and vote in favor of this resolution.
Thank you,
________________________
You can find your elected representative and their contact information on the City of Kingston’s website here. With your help, just a few minutes of your time can make a huge impact in the lives of future homeowners and our community!
Sincerely and In Partnership,
Mike Gilliard
Executive Director
We are thrilled to announce the success of its 2022 Fundraising Campaign! Your generosity helped us exceed our goal of raising $20,000…thank you!
These funds will be used to reduce the sales cost of future homes, improve the quality of the finish details in homes currently under construction, and expand our capacity to better meet the affordable homeownership needs of the City of Kingston.
“We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from the community of supporters,” says Aron Chilewich, Chair of the KCLB’s Communications, Community Engagement and Fundraising Committee. “Thanks to your generosity, we will be able to continue our work to provide the most well-designed, affordable homes for our community.”
Dear Friends of the Kingston City Land Bank,
As you take stock of this whirlwind year and celebrate with your friends and family, please consider contributing to our holiday fundraiser. We think we’ve done a lot in 2022, but with your help we can accomplish even more in the year ahead.
In the past twelve months, we:
As we grow, it’s important we remember that we do this work for the individual families whose lives are measurably improved by safe and affordable homes. With your help, we can reach more families–improving their lives and bringing a measure of stability to our ever-evolving city.
Yours,
The KCLB Staff and Board
On October 26, the Kingston City Land Bank (KCLB) celebrated the sale of its fourth property, 149 Greenkill. The KCLB and its Board of Directors congratulates the family on their new home!
KCLB started major interior and exterior rehabilitation of this property in December 2021. This is the fourth home in KCLB’s Affordable Homeownership PILOT program. Launched in 2020, under this program the KCLB purchases vacant properties from the City of Kingston for the full price of back taxes and rehabilitates them into well-designed affordable homes.
October 4, 2022
THE KINGSTON CITY LAND BANK ANNOUNCES FIRST CLOSING UNDER THE STATE’S NEW CONSTRUCTION FINANCING PROGRAM FOR AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP TO REHAB FOUR VACANT HOMES IN KINGSTON
The Kingston City Land Bank (KCLB) is proud to announce that it is the first organization in New York State to close on funding and commence construction under the New York State Legacy Cities ACCESS Program. This is also the KCLB’s first development partnership with Maeda Construction, a Certified MWBE General Contracting firm based in Staatsburg. Goldstein Hall provided legal counsel to the partnership. Homeownership Counseling services will be provided by PathStone Community Improvement of Newburgh.
The KCLB purchased 29 Rogers Street, 63 German Street, 237 East Union Street, and 169 Hurley Avenue from the City of Kingston for the full price of back taxes. The properties will be fully rehabbed and sold to first-time homeowners. Sales and marketing will commence in mid-2023.
To fund this work for our community, the Community Preservation Corporation provided $866,661 in financing and New York State Housing and Community Renewal’s Housing Trust Fund Corporation provided $600,000 in financing.
The Legacy Cities ACCESS Program was established in 2021 to provide resources to New York State Land Banks, MWBE and non-profit developers to rehab vacant 1-3 unit properties into affordable homeownership opportunities for underserved households.
“We are excited to be the first organization to close under HCR’s amazing new Legacy Cities ACCESS Program,” says Daniel Kanter, Board Chair of the KCLB. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the City of Kingston and all involved to scale our efforts under this program to provide many more well-designed, affordable homes for current and future residents of our community.”
“This program helps to fulfill a great need in the Mid-Hudson region,” says Robert Drost, Principal at Maeda Construction. “Developing these vacant buildings to provide first time, affordable, home ownership will change people’s lives for the better, and we get to be a part of that.”
“We would like to congratulate Kingston City Land Bank and Maeda Construction on this innovative and exciting project to create more affordable home ownership opportunities for the City of Kingston,” says Brian Hsu, Partner at Goldstein Hall.
“Increasing access to housing in the Hudson Valley that working families can afford is my priority, and it’s why I advocated for the Legacy Cities Program and secured historic housing investments to make it a reality,” Senator Michelle Hinchey said. “The Legacy Cities ACCESS Program will change lives by building generational equity and wealth through homeownership for first-time homebuyers who may never have had this opportunity. It is incredible that our Kingston community will be the first-ever beneficiary of this program, thanks to the leadership of Kingston City Land Bank and so many regional partners. Owning a home is a hallmark of the American Dream, and I will continue to fight for long-term solutions to help more upstate New Yorkers secure safe, reliable housing within their budget.”
“I want to thank Governor Hochul for her efforts in creating this new program and congratulate the Kingston City Land Bank for being the first in New York State to utilize this critical funding. Affordable homeownership is the cornerstone of rebuilding our neighborhoods that for years have suffered from disinvestment,” says City of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble. “These four homes were formerly vacant, tax foreclosed properties, and now, though our partnership with the KCLB, will be redeveloped and these neighborhoods will be transformed.”
“The Kingston City Land Bank’s ability to access funding from the newly created New York Legacy Access Program is a welcome development in getting Kingston families into homes that have been vacant and abandoned for far too long,” says City of Kingston Ward 9 Alder Michelle Hirsch. “This funding will help revitalize our neighborhoods while bringing home affordability to the City of Kingston.
The Kingston City Land Bank was formed with the purpose of acquiring title to tax-foreclosed and other distressed properties in the City of Kingston, removing barriers to redevelopment and returning properties to the tax rolls. Its mission is to foster an equitable community where vacant or distressed properties are transformed into community assets that improve the quality of life for Kingston residents, stabilize and enhance neighborhoods, and create new pathways for social and economic development.
For more information about the KCLB and to join our mailing list for updates, visit www.kclb.org and follow us on Instagram at @kingstoncitylandbank
What’s new at the Land Bank? Read about what properties we’re working on this summer and more here.
Want to own an amazing, affordable home in Kingston? Consider becoming a Kingston City Land Bank (KCLB) homeowner!
The KCLB is excited to announce the sale of our latest newly renovated and affordable home, located at 149 Greenkill Avenue! This fully rehabbed 3-bedroom, 1-bath home features a new kitchen, bathroom and large, private backyard. We commenced renovations late last year and expect to complete construction in July.
“After many years of vacancy and neglect, we are thrilled to add 149 Greenkill to the list of comprehensively and beautifully renovated homes that the KCLB has returned to our community,” says Daniel Kanter, Board Chair of the KCLB. “This home is classic Kingston through-and-through, and no detail has been overlooked by our design team or our incredible crew from Maeda Contracting. It’s ready for its next 100 years and beyond.”
“We are excited to bring this opportunity to our community,” says Minya DeJohnette, Chair of the KCLB’s Communications & Community Engagement Committee. “Our marketing campaign will include direct outreach via local businesses, houses of worship and community events. We look forward to meeting everyone and discussing our work in person!”
This is the 4th home in our Affordable Homeownership PILOT program. Launched in 2020, the program is designed to purchase vacant properties from the City of Kingston for the full price of back taxes and transform them into the most well-designed affordable homes in our community! Selling properties this way is one of 4 Pathways we use to return properties to the tax rolls.
The household and income limits to purchase can be found in English and Spanish HERE. To take a virtual tour of the home as we near construction completion, check it out below!
To begin the process to apply to purchase, complete our interest form at kclb.org/homes.
You must complete this form by June 15, 2022 to be considered to purchase!
Attached is a sneak-peak of our ongoing construction activities at 149 Greenkill Avenue and 124 Franklin Street…we have been busy!
As of March 2022, construction at 149 Greenkill just passed the 50% complete mark, on budget and schedule!
124 Franklin has been gutted in preparation for a full renovation, and our demolition of a structurally unsound rear addition has been completed. In addition, we repaired the utility lines, so the home has water for the first time in over 20 years!
Overall, our activities on this last phase of our PILOT program is progressing as planned and on schedule. We expect to make a major announcement on our Greenkill home soon.
Stay tuned for more updates!
