Former Jail Campus Is Now An $87M 'Golden Hill' Affordable, Supportive Housing Development

KINGSTON, NY — The former Ulster County Jail property has a new life as an affordable housing community for Hudson Valley families, seniors, and those who rely on social services for a leg up.

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Friday the completion of the Golden Hill Apartments, a 164-unit affordable housing development in Kingston. The $87 million project is located on the former 20-acre site of the Ulster County Jail.

The all-electric development was designed to be a multi-generational community serving families, seniors, and households who are in need of support services.

"Golden Hill Apartments is a bold reimagining of what was once a vacant jail into a vibrant, modern, multi-generational community that lifts up families, seniors, and those who've faced homelessness," Hochul said. "We know the Hudson Valley needs more affordable and supportive homes, and we're making sure no stone is left unturned when it comes to making more homes for residents a reality. With today's announcement, Golden Hills brings us one step closer to our goal of creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes across New York, and building a more affordable, equitable future."

The Golden Hill development has two mid-rise apartment buildings, four townhomes, and a central community building. With a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, ranging in rent from $538 to $2287, all apartments at Golden Hill are affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income.

Almost half of the apartments are reserved for seniors aged 62 and older, while 48 apartments are set aside for households eligible for onsite support services, including families facing homelessness. There are also units that are accessible and equipped for those with mobility impairments, as well as hearing and visual impairments.

Several landscaped outdoor areas link the buildings together with five playgrounds for different age groups, a community garden, an outdoor plaza, and a wooded trail connection next to the Empire State Trail. The community hub has a fitness center, a shared porch, and a child-care facility open to the public. An Ulster County Area Transit bus stop will be added later this year, according to the developers.

As an all-electric development, each building has a rooftop solar array that generates around 700 kWp of renewable energy combined. The project incorporates green design standards, such as energy-efficient appliances, maximizing the benefits of solar heat gain in the winter and solar shading in the summer, high-performance windows, and energy recovery systems for space heating and cooling.

The area offers several community, municipal and health services, including the Ulster County Department of Health, the Boys & Girls Club of Ulster County, a post office, a rehabilitation center, and pharmacies. The site is near downtown Kingston which was recently redeveloped as part of the Downtown Revitalization Initiative with improved streetscapes and public transportation.

"We are thrilled to have a brand new 164-unit affordable housing development opening in Kingston," City of Kingston Mayor Steve Noble said. "I would like to thank Governor Hochul and Commissioner Visnauskas for their ongoing commitment to supporting Kingston's housing efforts, helping us to meet our ambitious housing goals. The partnership between Pennrose, Family of Woodstock, and Ulster County allowed this former jail site to become a home to seniors and families who will now be able to stay in their community. The green aspects of the project make it a shining example for other similar efforts. I look forward to continuing this work with all of our partners to bring more projects like this to fruition."

Pennrose and Family of Woodstock are the co-developers of the project, with Family of Woodstock also providing the onsite support services such as case management and care coordination services, crisis intervention, and financial counseling.

"Ulster County is struggling with a critical affordable housing shortage," Family of Woodstock Executive Director Michael Berg said. "The problem stems from the fact that housing built during the past 20 years did not align with the income levels of county residents. The Golden Hill project is especially important because it is the first workforce housing built specifically to address the needs of that local population."

Ulster County's 2021 Housing Action Plan identified the redevelopment of the Ulster County Jail site as a key step in addressing the county's growing affordable housing needs. The project complements the state's $500 million capital fund, announced as part of the FY25 Enacted Budget, to build new homes on NYS-owned property, including former correctional facilities.

"I hear it from folks every day — costs, specifically housing costs, are way too high. Seniors across our community are under tremendous pressure trying to make ends meet, and far too many hardworking people are unable to afford decent housing in the communities where they work," Rep. Pat Ryan said. "That's why I spearheaded the Golden Hill Apartments project as Ulster County Executive, and why I am so proud to see it officially open today. We have a full scale crisis on our hands, and we have to embrace an all-of-the-above approach to address it. I am incredibly proud that the Golden Hill Apartments is officially opening, and am grateful to Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger for continuing to push on this important project."