When the Kingston Board of Education rejected a $25 million tax break for developers of a large mixed-use development in the Uptown district, the project did not completely die.
The school board voted 6 to 3 against a 25-year tax break for the Kingstonian project, which includes 143 apartments, a parking garage, hotel, promenade, retail space, and a pedestrian bridge over Schwenk Drive.
After receiving the application for a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT), the Ulster County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) required the applicants to seek approval from the Kingston Common Council, Ulster County Legislature, and Kingston school board.
IDA policy requires approval from the three taxing jurisdictions for PILOT tax breaks that involve housing, IDA Chief Executive Officer Rose Woodworth said Thursday. The legislature voted to approve the PILOT last month. The common council approved a previous PILOT for $29 million.
Prior to the school board's "no" vote on Wednesday, IDA officials informed board members that even though IDA policy requires approvals from local boards, the IDA board could still legally award the developers the tax break without the board's support.
Woodworth said New York state law would allow it.
“It’s an internal policy that we don’t do housing without the approval of the three taxing jurisdictions, but it’s not New York State law, so technically, I suppose we could," Woodworth said. "I don’t expect to know anything more until the next board meeting, which is in a couple weeks."
What You Need To Know
- The IDA CEO told Spectrum News the IDA board would not violate state law by acting against IDA policy
- The school board voted 6 to 3 against a $25 million property tax break over 25 years for the Kingstonian project
- The County Executive declined comment Thursday, and has not commented on the PILOT in several weeks
The IDA board meets next on December 16. Woodworth said she hopes to be able to say by next week whether the board plans a vote.
On Wednesday, school board member Herbert Lamb said he received assurance from the deputy county executive that the IDA would follow policy by not awarding the tax break.
Neither the developers — Joe Bonura Jr. and Brad Jordan — nor Kingston Mayor Steve Noble responded to requests for comment on Thursday. County Executive Pat Ryan declined comment through a spokesperson. Ryan has not spoke about the PILOT since October 23.
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December 04, 2020 at 07:45AM
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Kingston Project May Still Happen Despite BOE's Rejection - Spectrum News
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