POUGHKEEPSIE – Kearney Realty and Development Corp. is teaming up with Hudson River Housing to turn a city-owned parking lot in Poughkeepsie into a mixed-use development with 74 residential units.
Ken Kearney, the company’s president said that his business is purchasing the 1.22 acre portion of the parking lot that stretches from Catherine to Hamilton Streets and is bordered on the north by Mill Street. The project was originally announced in 2018, as reported here. The building design calls for the project to sit at the corner of Mill and Catherine Streets.
Kearney recently developed Queen City Lofts on Main Street and that project has been recognized as the 2019 Upstate Project of the Year” for the region that stretches from Westchester to Buffalo. The award is presented by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal.
“The Keaneys are thrilled again to partner with Christa (Hines) and Hudson River Housing,” said Kearney, noting that the relationship with Hudson River Housing dates back fifteen years. “Crannell Square is a mixed-use development of 74 units,” using the mixed-income model created by New York State. Residents of Crannell Square will have incomes ranging from $28,000 to $103,000.
Christa Hines, Executive Director of Hudson River Housing said that timing is right for this project.
“We’re seeing a tremendous need for affordable housing, and for housing of all income levels, and this will address by creating 74 units of affordable housing.” This will be the eighth project in which Hudson River Housing is working with Kearney Realty and Development.
“We’re hoping that this project gets the necessary approvals from the common council as soon as possible,” said Mayor Rob Rolison, who noted that the parking lot is a contaminated site that will require cleanup work to be performed by Kearney. The mayor cites certain actions taken years ago during urban renewal that contaminated the soil under the parking lot. “It’s a multi-faceted real plus for the city. A vacant parking lot gets turned into housing with 74 units of mixed income, giving people housing options that they didn’t have,” said Rolison as he talked about the excitement of the project. The mayor said the benefits include returning the property to the tax rolls, creating 200 construction jobs, and will be a boost to business located nearby on Main Street.
Councilwoman Natasha Cherry represents the area and is looking forward to the project. “This does a lot for the ward. I’m very excited that we’re adding affordable housing to this neighborhood. Not only will it stabilize the neighborhood and promote uniformity that we want for Poughkeepsie, but it will boost the economy with the local businesses.” Cherry is certain that the amount of foot traffic created by the new residents will help the businesses located in the nearby Main Mall section of Main Street.
