KINGSTON – A block party marked the
official ribbon cutting ceremony for RUPCO’s Lace Mill Curtain Factory
artist housing project, all day Friday in Midtown Kingston. The event
featured an open house, musical performances, art exhibits, and area vendors,
plus remarks from local officials.
The $16 million project encompasses 70,000 square feet, inside a 112-year
old abandoned textile factory which made lace curtains until the 1950s.
The once-blighted site is located at Cornell Street and South Manor Avenue,
and is now converted into 55 modern affordable apartments.
Redeveloped Lace Mill Curtain factory is shown off on Friday
RUPCO’s Board Chairman James Childs was ecstatic.
“This Midtown area is being, in part, revitalized because of a project
like this and other things at RUPCO that we plan to do as we created homes
for artists, as we have improved the community and we are supporting the
people that are here, it is our desire to be able to have projects like
this,” he said.
“We’ve developed ample common gallery and studio space, which
is really cool,” agreed RUPCO CEO Kevin O’Connor. “The
palette was concrete, steel, wood, glass and brick. Today we have the
largest solar array in the city of Kingston on the roof, with 160KW.”
Congressman Christopher Gibson underscored the importance of revitalization.
“This issue of blight, and challenge, and brownstone, is one we’re
dealing with across the country,” he said.
Mayor Shayne Gallo said the project recognizes Kingston as a haven for
artists. “We’re using that as a catalyst for economic development
and quality of life,” he said, also noting increased property tax
revenue.
Under Gallo’s BEAT initiative, the Lace Mill forms an anchor to
help revitalize Midtown. “It’s an exciting opportunity, not
just for Midtown, but the entire city, to showcase our diversity, history
and architecture,” he said.
