KINGSTON – The Kingston City Council Tuesday night gave its final approval for a property transfer and payments in lieu of taxes agreement to the Trans Art Cultural Services non-profit organization to convert an old city property on Henry Street into an African American cultural center.

The dilapidated building is a historic landmark in the city and Council Majority Leader William Reynolds said the project is a win-win for the city and its residents.

“It will celebrate African American heritage in Kingston and in the Hudson Valley, it will stabilize a building that is in an advanced state of disrepair and it will also be an educational and cultural draw for people in the neighborhood, as well as visitors to the City of Kingston, so that they can appreciate that aspect of Kingston’s history and Kingston’s culture,” he said.

The vote to approve the arrangement with the group was eight to one with Councilman Charles Landi opposing it saying he didn’t want another city property off the tax rolls.