Launches Construction Of SUNY Ulster Kingston Center

Kingston, NY – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein was joined today by State, County and local officials to celebrate the start of major construction at the soon to be SUNY Ulster Kingston Center, located at the former Sophie Finn Elementary School at 94 Mary’s Avenue in Kingston.  The redevelopment of the School for use as a community college extension center is the centerpiece of County Executive Hein’s Strategic Taxpayer Relief through Innovative Visions in Education (“S.T.R.I.V.E.”)  initiative. Those joining County Executive Hein at the ceremony included: Thomas Scaglione, Mid-Hudson Regional Representative for Governor Andrew Cuomo; Brian Hahn, Project Coordinator for New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation;  Ulster County Legislative Chairman John Parete; City of Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo; SUNY Ulster President Dr. Donald Katt; SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees President William Spearman; and Kingston City School District Superintendent Dr. Paul Padalino.

“Today marks a key milestone in the process of improving access to higher education to inner city youth while supporting the revitalization of midtown Kingston and providing financial savings to our taxpayers,” said County Executive Hein.  “The S.T.R.I.V.E. project addresses critical challenges facing our community, and is critical to the creation of an educational corridor in the heart of Kingston.  The adaptive re-use of a vacant school facility as well as long-term taxpayer savings through consolidation of County properties is a great example of what’s possible when cooperation and collaboration is fostered within our community.  As a partnership between Ulster County, SUNY Ulster, the Kingston City School District, the City of Kingston, and the State of New York, S.T.R.I.V.E. is providing a great example of how working across traditional organizational boundaries can benefit local students, the local community, as well as provide long-term savings to our respective taxpayers.  I thank all those who have partnered with us and am truly proud that together we are creating an educational corridor, including a modern community college at the center, to provide easy access to higher education for those in the area.”

Kenneth Adams, Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner

“The Mid-Hudson Regional Council has directed critical State support to a number of important projects that are helping to transform and reinvigorate the area economy. This initiative provides inner city youth greater access to educational opportunities to gain the skills necessary to secure employment, which ensures local companies have a strong, talented workforce to hire from,” said Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Kenneth Adams. “S.T.R.I.V.E. and the SUNY Ulster Kingston Center are excellent examples of what strategic public-private partnerships with our academic institutions can create: an economic engine dedicated to training the workforce of tomorrow by helping our youth today.”

Dr. Donald Katt, SUNY Ulster President

“SUNY Ulster is so excited that the actual renovation of the building will start this month and we are projecting our move into the building next summer,” said SUNY Ulster President Dr. Donald Katt.  “The location of our new Kingston Center is ideal to enhance collaboration with Kingston High School and Health Alliance’s Mary’s Avenue Campus.  We have also started planning for the fall 2015 semester where our class offerings will be scheduled to attract more adults to the Center.  Long time Kingston residents will remember the college opened its doors in 1963 at the former number 2 school on West Chestnut Street not far from our new site, so in some regard next summer will be similar to a homecoming.”

Dr. Paul J. Padalino, Superintendent of Kingston City School District

“This visionary transformation is being made possible through creative collaboration with our community partners.  It is also possible because of the support of our Kingston City School District voters, who approved the sale of Sophie Finn Elementary School.  As we break ground for the next phase of this project, I want to take a moment to recognize our community for their support in making this vision a reality,” said Dr. Paul J. Padalino, Superintendent of Kingston City School District. “As a school district leader, it has been a challenge to navigate the changing landscape of public education in New York State. Therefore, I am especially gratified to see the Kingston City School District highlighted on a statewide level as a positive example of the adaptive reuse of a vacant elementary school. We are proud to be part of a groundbreaking project that will serve our students, parents, and community members for years to come.”

The S.T.R.I.V.E. construction received unanimous authorization from the Ulster County Legislature in late October following the opening of bids for construction earlier in the month.  Some demolition and abatement of asbestos and other materials started in September to allow for major construction to begin in mid-November.  The $7.83 million project has received significant State and private funding through the SUNY Office of Capital Facilities, Empire State Development, the New York State Environmental Facilities Corp., and The Dyson Foundation.  The project, which includes extensive interior and exterior building renovations, the addition of new parking areas, and installation of innovative stormwater elements (green infrastructure), is scheduled to be completed prior to start of SUNY Ulster classes in fall 2015.

The S.T.R.I.V.E. Project – Strategic Taxpayer Relief through Innovative Visions in Education:

• A multifaceted plan that creates an educational corridor in the center of Kingston greatly improving access to higher education; providing educational opportunities for all students and increasing access to college classes for high school students;  creating better opportunities for internships and professional development; and the Center will be walkable and accessible to public transportation;
• A coordinated plan to consolidate County properties to improve delivery of services and provide long-term taxpayer savings;
• Ensuring adaptive re-use of a vacant elementary school to support community development revitalization; and
• Providing a model for inter-municipal cooperation with strong private and state funding.

Pictured above: County Executive Mike Hein; Pictured below: (from left) SUNY Ulster Board of Trustees President William Spearman; Kingston City School District Superintendent Dr. Paul Padalino; City of Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo; SUNY Ulster President Dr. Donald Katt; Ulster County Executive Mike Hein; Thomas Scaglione, Mid-Hudson Regional Representative for Governor Andrew Cuomo; Ulster County Legislative Chairman John Parete; and Brian Hahn, Project Coordinator for New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation.