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Kingston Mayor Readies Plans for Midtown

WAMC/Allison Dunne

A midtown revitalization plan is underway in Kingston, and it is part of an initiative the city’s mayor is undertaking to address cultural tourism, economic development, and quality of life issues.

Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo says he really likes Ulster County Executive Michael Hein’s  S.T.R.I.V.E. initiative, or Strategic Taxpayer Relief through Innovative Visions in Education. It’s an initiative to transfer Sophie Finn Elementary School to SUNY Ulster for redevelopment as a community college satellite campus adjacent to Kingston High School. In midtown. The lightbulb went off for Gallo.

And that’s how BEAT, or the Business, Education, and Technological initiative came about. Gallo says there is also an arts component.

He talks about a proposed medical college at the Kingston Hospital Campus. For example, Gallo mentions the possibility of SUNY Ulster offering digital medical engineering. He also talks about educational programs at other midtown facilities.

He mentions SUNY New Paltz possibly offering a digital engineering program, and Bard College contributing to arts and engineering.

Another component of the midtown revitalization program is the relocation of the police precinct from the Rondout to midtown, in the Bank of America building on Broadway.

He says relocating the police station here should help give residents peace of mind and improve quality of life issues, both of which should foster economic development. Gallo will hold a press conference Thursday to announce his BEAT initiative as well as talk about moving the police station to midtown. He also is expected to announce partnerships with SUNY Ulster and Bard College.

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