Our Work in Kingston

UPDATE Sept. 2008 -- Daily Freeman Demands Improvements to Hudson Landing Proposal

In a Sept. 17, 2008 editorial, the Kingston Daily Freeman urges city officials to take a hard line on two issues surrounding AVR's proposed 1,682-unit Hudson Landing riverfront development. The editorial suggests that "reasonable people can disagree" on whether the number of units is still too high, but states emphatically that two issues -- public access to the river and wildlife protection -- "must be non-negotiable." More...

UPDATE 2007 -- Latest Kingston Waterfront Proposal Violates Local and State Policies

Two large-scale developments have been proposed for the Kingston waterfront

Two new studies of the Hudson Landing project in Kingston reveal that the proposed development violates policies adopted by the municipality in its Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (LWRP) as well as state coastal management guidelines. After reviewing materials submitted by developer AVR to the city planning board, expert analysts concluded that the 1,750-unit waterfront development would have unacceptable visual impacts within the City of Kingston, from vantage points on the Hudson River, and from many areas of Dutchess County -- all in direct violation of the city's LWRP and state policies.

U.S. Rep. Maurice Hinchey and state Assemblyman Kevin Cahill strongly urged the city to comply with the LWRP in this October 2006 letter. Further details about the new analyses are in this press release. The studies, which can be downloaded using the links below, were submitted to the Kingston Planning Board on Friday, Jan. 4, by the Friends of Kingston Waterfront Coalition.

Background

In 2005 developers put forward plans for two large developments on the Kingston waterfront. The original proposals, calling for over 2,500 housing units, would have increased the population of Kingston by almost 6,000 people -- far more than the city's traffic, sewer, school and other tax-paid infrastructure could handle.

Scenic Hudson and its partners in Friends of Kingston Waterfront, have been working together with citizens and elected officials to put forward better alternatives. The alternatives seek to balance Kingston's need for economic growth with its desire to preserve the unique character of its waterfront.

In response to these pressures, the developers have scaled back their proposals to reduce the number of units somewhat. Even so, the most recent proposals would still be the largest Hudson waterfront development north of New York City, and still raise significant concerns.

Additional information about Scenic Hudson's work to shape appropriate riverfront development in Kingston can be found here.