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Kingston council OKs up to $1.2 million to remove downtown Pike Plan porticos over two dissenting votes
Summary
The council authorized up to $1.2 million of general fund balance for partial or full removal of the Pike Plan pedestrian portico structures and related work; the measure passed 7–2 with Aldermen Michael Tierney and Terrell Mickens dissenting.
The City of Kingston Common Council voted 7–2 on March 4 to authorize the use of up to $1,200,000 of general fund balance to pay costs related to the partial or full removal of the Pike Plan pedestrian portico structures and related work.
Resolution 47 of 2025 passed after a brief discussion over what elements of the Pike Plan would be removed and what would remain. President Schott and other supporters described the action as necessary to address structural and façade issues; opponents said removal would harm a core element of Kingston’s streetscape.
Why it matters: The Pike Plan is a streetscape design that includes columns and canopies on downtown sidewalks. The council’s appropriation authorizes funds to remove canopies and related portico structures; sidewalks described as part of the Pike Plan are not slated for removal per council clarification, but the canopies will be.
Council discussion and votes: Alderman Terrell Mickens asked for clarification that the Pike Plan referred to the streetscape design and whether canopies would come down; the chair and staff confirmed canopies would be removed while sidewalks — also part of the Pike Plan — would remain. Alderman Michael Tierney explained he would vote no, saying in part that the action “destroys a seminal part of what makes Kingston Kingston.” Tierney also said he supported procedural flexibility but could not vote for removal of this feature. The final vote was 7 in favor, 2 opposed; Tierney and Mickens were recorded as the dissenting votes.
Funding and next steps: The resolution authorizes up to $1.2 million of general fund balance for partial or full removal and related work; the council did not specify a construction schedule during the meeting. City staff will administer work and contracts under the authorization.
The action is procedural and fiscal: it provides the funding authorization needed to proceed with design and remediation work as staff present contracts and work scopes.
