Common Council approves sale of 46 Grand Street to Kingston City Land Bank with affordability conditions

The Kingston Common Council’s Finance Committee voted unanimously to sell 46 Grand Street to the Kingston City Land Bank for $1, attaching affordability conditions that at least one unit be reserved at 60% of area median income (AMI) and the remaining units be at or below 80% AMI.

The decision followed two competing public presentations. Emily Seewall, cofounder of the COOP concept (doing business as Fly the Coop Inc.), and Tina Diurna, the organization’s cofounder and a licensed social worker, described a plan to renovate the multiuse building as a combined vocational training and youth cooperative housing site for local young adults. "This will be a project for our concept headquarters where we can run the program for community, as well as Kingston youth," Seewall said during the presentation. Diurna said the housing component would target ages 21 to 24 and include supportive services: "There will be staff on-site, part time and full time," she said, adding that the organization hopes to include an LCSW in one of the on-site offices.

Architect Karen Reynolds reviewed preliminary code and design findings and an order-of-magnitude cost estimate. Reynolds said the building is roughly 3,200 square feet and that a preliminary construction estimate is about $800,000 (approximately $250 per square foot), not including site costs, contingencies or architectural fees.

Speakers representing the Kingston City Land Bank presented an alternate plan focused on affordable homeownership. A Land Bank representative (identified in the meeting as Mike) said the land bank had recently secured a $2 million state grant to support development and proposed a development timeline that would include predevelopment, permitting and fundraising. He told the committee the Land Bank’s approach would produce for-sale affordable condominium or townhouse units, with stewardship measures and enforceable resale restrictions to maintain long-term affordability.

Committee members questioned both proposals on legal and financial grounds. Several members raised fair-housing and fair-selection concerns in response to COOP’s initial description of age-based eligibility and limits on residency term lengths; one council member noted that limiting tenants by age or restricting tenancy based on turning 25 could raise fair-housing and age-discrimination issues. COOP representatives said they would consult attorneys and revise rules to comply with law. Other council members pressed COOP on fundraising and operations: COOP said it had secured a $250,000 bank loan, had approximately $305,000 in grants and pledges available to start work, and was pursuing additional foundation and private donations. COOP leaders said they expected renovation and program launch within one to two years, with a target completion in late 2026, though they also said the project could take up to two years or more depending on funding and permitting.

After receiving the Land Bank’s proposal and discussion in executive session, the Finance Committee moved the land-bank sale resolution. Councilmember Michael (first name used in the transcript) moved the resolution; Councilmember Sarah Pasti seconded. The committee approved the resolution unanimously. The resolution instructs sale of the property to the Kingston City Land Bank for $1, requires at least one 60% AMI unit and that the balance be at or below 80% AMI, and delegates to the land bank the predevelopment and development steps described in its presentation.

The committee and presenters also discussed next steps. COOP leaders said they welcome partnership with council members and the Land Bank to pursue capital funding and program support; several councilmembers offered to assist with capital-campaign strategy. The Land Bank said it would proceed with site investigation, environmental remediation paid from its secured funds, site plan work and a development timeline that includes effort to secure construction financing and state approvals.

The committee’s approved resolution and the Land Bank’s state grant together create a pathway for the property’s conversion to affordable housing. Council members and presenters acknowledged substantial remaining work: finalizing funding packages, resolving any environmental remediation, confirming the unit mix and parking approach, and ensuring selection and lease/sale practices comply with fair-housing law.

The committee recorded the vote as unanimous; the transcript does not include a roll-call list of every member present.