Andy Murphy Center
KINGSTON – City officials approved a much-needed facelift for the community building in Midtown Kingston Tuesday night.
Located on Broadway at Hoffman Street, the Andy Murphy Midtown Neighborhood Center was constructed in 1880 as a New York State Armory. It later served as a venue for world-class boxing, basketball, musicians, dances and even a Queen once visited, according to the city website.
The Midtown Neighborhood Center was renamed in 2008 after the late Andy Murphy who served as Parks and Recreation superintendent for 28 years and helped shape Parks and Recreation in Kingston.
Alderman Steve Shabot called the building another fine example of the city’s most unique architecture. “It’s a really nice building that has slowly fallen into disrepair, I’m glad to see everyone is supportive of getting it back to its past glorious state,” he said.
Alderwoman Deborah Brown agreed.
“It’s probably one of the biggest sites we have in the city for time of disaster, Brown noted. “Unfortunately it’s starting to look like a disaster itself, couldn’t hold all the people that needed to be there for safety.”
