KINGSTON - The Preservation League of New York State has selected the Hotel Kirkland in Kingston to receive its Excellence in Historic Preservation Award. This statewide awards program recognizes individuals and organizations for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to the preservation of New York State’s irreplaceable architectural heritage.

“The Hotel Kirkland is an exemplary preservation project,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. “What was once a symbol of decline at the gateway to Kingston’s Stockade National Historic District is now a beacon of hope, providing mixed-use support to the heritage tourism and business communities, as well as desirable rental housing. Further, the installation of a geothermal heating and cooling system ensures that this important historic structure will have a sustainable future.”

Contributing to the success of this effort were Kingston Mayor James M. Sottile; the Rural Ulster Preservation Company; architect A.J. Coppola AIA of Newburgh; and Jon Behrends, Precision Contractor of Dutchess. The project leveraged permanent and construction funding from 17 different sources.

Built in 1899, the four-story English Tudor revival building constructed as a hotel with dining and banquet facilities. The restaurant was known as the Dutch Rathskellar, and in its heyday in the mid-20th century, it was an important social landmark and legendary gathering and meeting place. Despite its status as a community institution, the building remained vacant for over three decades, and weather and vandalism took its toll. In early 2001, the Hotel Kirkland was nearly razed to clear the site for a planned parking garage.

“Kingston has a proud heritage dating back to 1609, and the Kirkland is yet another historic jewel that has been brought back by the Rural Ulster Preservation Company,” said Sottile.