Check presentation at the council meeting

KINGSTON – With recent renovations to the Kingston Pike Plan completed the Rural Ulster Preservation Company (RUPCO) was able to present the City of Kingston with a check for $200,000 to help cover the cost of the project during Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Common Council.

The grant was secured through the New York State Main Street Program to help fund the project and now that the renovations have been completed, the city can be reimbursed.

While speaking to the Council, RUPCO Executive Director Kevin O’Connor noted that they have also recently secured a $350,000 Home Award from the state to assist first time homebuyers purchase homes in the City of Kingston.

“These funds can go to anywhere from $10,000-$20,000 per household who’s buying a home,” O’Connor said, explaining that the money can be used for a down payment, closing costs, or even repairing a home.

“Many of the affordable units here in the City of Kingston and we think homeownership is a good thing and now with interest rates still as low as they are, and the way the market has come back, there is some real affordability here in the city and it is a good time to consider buying a home,” he said.

Council President James Noble said he thinks the renovation project was well worth it and praised the support that RUPCO has continued to provide for the city saying that having them in Kingston working on defunct properties and assisting homeowners is a major asset in improving the tax base.