KINGSTON – A corporation that plans to open a colonial-era tavern and restaurant some 200 feet from the proposed Kingstonian project in Kingston’s Stockade District has filed a court challenge against the city planning board for filing a negative declaration of environmental impact.
By filing the “neg-dec,’ the planning board is saying the project will have no significant environmental impacts on the district, something the petitioner, CREDA, LLC is disputing in its Article 78 challenge of the decision in Ulster County State Supreme Court.
CREDA maintains its ‘Ye Olde Stockade Tavern,’ which draws on the historical, Revolutionary War-era character and architecture in the Stockade District, will be harmed by the project that will include a 420-car garage, 143 apartments, 32-room boutique hotel, 9,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, pedestrian plaza and walking bridge, all within the National Register-listed Kingston Stockade District.
The article 78 challenge, filed on January 16, 2020, argues that “Petitioner will be injured by the project because the project will degrade the historic character of the area, which is essential for the operation of petition’s business.” It also maintains “The project will permanently alter the historic character of the Kingston Stockade District, in which the proposed ‘Ye Olde Stockade Tavern’ is located, and will interfere with the appearance and environment of this neighborhood.”
Also cited in the court argument is the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation opinion that “The new construction would significantly alter the northern district boundary and would be clearly visible from within the historic district.”
CREDA is seeking to have the State Supreme Court annul and vacate the planning board’s negative declaration for the project.
The Article 78 proceeding lists as respondents the City of Kingston Planning Board; City of Kingston; JM Development Group, LLC; Herzog Supply Co., Inc.; Kingstonian Development, LLC; Page properties, LLC; and Blue Stone Realty, LLC.
