Kingston council debates $25,000 purchase of five Fourth Avenue parcels amid ownership concerns

On March 31 the Kingston Common Council considered Resolution 49, which would authorize the city to buy five small parcels on Fourth Avenue for $25,000 to add to an adjacent parcel and to allow potential trail connections from Fort Avenue.

The parcels described by staff are narrow, sloped lots that are difficult to build on. Council members said acquiring them could create pedestrian access up the slope and provide space for a small nature-trail area, but several members questioned whether the city should buy the land now.

One council member said the price—reported as $25,000—was “well below” appraised or market levels but cautioned against buying property that would be taken off the tax rolls without a clear ownership or development plan. Another member suggested the Kingston Local Development Corporation, which already owns property at the nearby business park, should acquire the parcels instead. Several members said they want the city to retain ownership if it proceeds, arguing the city should be the landlord rather than convey the property to a for‑profit developer.

Council members also discussed timing and process: the project is at an early stage, the Local Development Corporation has completed or is completing a study, and the city would later issue a request for proposals to identify development partners. Some members urged that the council put development values into any future RFP or agreement (for example, land‑trust or municipal‑ownership models were mentioned) and requested that the issue be added to the Kingston Youth/Business/Community (KYC/KOMBC) agenda for further discussion.

No mover, seconder or recorded vote appears in the meeting transcript for Resolution 49; the transcript records discussion but does not show a final recorded outcome for the purchase.