One of the City of Kingston’s most notorious derelict properties will be the subject of a July forum, designed to let architects, city dwellers and business owners envision a re-birth of the property.
The King’s Inn site, located at 615 Broadway, will be the subject of a design charrette set for July 16th at 721 Media Center. Sponsored by the Business Alliance of Kingston, the Upstate New York Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and others, the event will follow the conventions of design charrettes across the nation, which typically invite architects, neighborhood residents, business owners and interested others to work in small teams to craft a preliminary concept for a new building.
The teams will receive a limited amount of guidance from the event hosts, with broad recommendations given as to how the site might be used. In addition, the Business Alliance of Kingston will report on the results of five focus groups that it has conducted this year to gauge community views on a host of City of Kingston issues.
“There’s an emerging consensus that we need to nurture and strengthen what’s already here – a vibrant arts community – by creating housing opportunities and neighborhood amenities for artists and other professionals that are affordable and contemporary,” said Business Alliance of Kingston President Pat Courtney Strong. “Artists of all kinds own homes and businesses in Kingston and we want to continue to attract them here.
Redevelopment of this pivotal site in an artist-friendly manner will send the message that the City supports their contributions and hopes they will continue to invest here.”
The City of Kingston is in the process of taking The King’s Inn for taxes. Courtney Strong and six others serve on a committee that was assembled by Mayor James Sottile to advise the City on future use of the site. The results of the design charrette will be presented to the City, which has been developing a Request for Proposals aimed at developers interested in acquiring the property.
The King’s Inn committee is chaired by city Fire Chief Rick Salzmann. The other committee members are homeowner Kathy Germain; City Planner Sue Cahill; Alderman Hayes Clement; Alderwoman Shirley Whitlock; Bardavon/UPAC executive director Chris Silva.
Other sponsors include Ulster County Planning Department, Mid-Hudson Energy Smart/NYSERDA, Alfandre Architecture, Ashokan Architecture, Cook Plus Fox Architects, Andrade Architecture, The Office of the Main Street Manager and Larisa Ortiz Associates.
Participation in the half-day event is by invitation and applications may be obtained at www.businessallianceofkingston.org