Ulster County to transfer 21 Elizabeth St. to housing development corporation for limited-equity homeownership project

The Ulster County Legislature voted to set a public hearing on Resolution 136 to transfer county-owned property at 21 Elizabeth Street in the City of Kingston to the Ulster County Housing Development Corporation, a local development corporation that would oversee the project.

Deputy County Executive Joanna (Deputy County Executive) told legislators the county bought the former residence, described in the meeting as "Reserves Manor," using American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and that the initial plan to rehabilitate the building for emergency family shelter proved cost‑prohibitive. "We bought a former house, Reserves Manor," Joanna said while describing the change in approach.

At a high level, county staff said the selected proposal would deliver affordable homeownership through a limited-equity cooperative model serving households at or below 80% of area median income (AMI). Officials said the county issued a request for proposals and received two applicants; the county issued an intent to award earlier in March and assembled a selection committee with representatives from executive and legislative branches.

Planning staff described a conceptual plan of three 12-unit buildings (as presented in the proposals) but noted that exact unit counts will depend on zoning discussions with the City of Kingston and final purchase-and-sale negotiations. "We're in a zoning district that will allow up to 12 units in a single building," the planning representative said. County staff said the RFP focused on two- and three-bedroom units to serve families and that, if the project proceeds, some units might be complete as early as this fall.

Legislators asked about demolition and materials reuse for the existing structure. County staff said the project team has demolition experience and that the Golden Hill project previously achieved about an 85% recycling rate for demolition debris, but cautioned that hazardous materials in the 21 Elizabeth Street building could limit salvageable material. "There is hazardous materials within the building that we have to be concerned about," a county official said, adding that concrete blocks and asphalt are more readily recyclable.

County staff emphasized the cooperatives model would pair a locally based construction/architecture firm with two nonprofits: one with experience in limited-equity cooperative legal and financing structures, and another focused on tenant/homeowner recruitment and support for lower-income households.

The Legislature approved the resolution to set the public hearing by voice vote. The motion and second were made in the meeting transcript but individual mover/second names were not specified in the record provided; the transcript records a voice response of "Aye." The public hearing will allow for comment and for the county to refine zoning, financing and development details before any final sale or transfer.

Why it matters: The transfer would move a county‑owned property purchased with federal ARPA dollars into local development hands to produce affordable homeownership opportunities—a policy shift county officials framed as part of a wider housing strategy that includes eviction prevention and affordable rental programs. The use of limited-equity coops aims to preserve long-term affordability and build household equity for families near the lower end of the income scale.

What comes next: County staff said they will continue negotiating the purchase-and-sale agreement, work with the City of Kingston on zoning and codes, and refine the project plan; a public hearing is scheduled under the resolution to gather public comment prior to any final transfer.