Kingston

The city of Kingston is the county seat of Ulster County and was the first capital of New York until it was burned by the British in 1777. There are three historic districts: the Stockade District uptown, the Midtown Neighborhood Broadway Corridor, and the Rondout-West Strand Historic District downtown.

Kingston is often referred to as one of the best places in the United States for artists. It is the host of The Kingston Artist’s Soapbox Derby and the O+ Festival, an annual event that provides discounted health and wellness services to participating artists and musicians as a “band-aid solution to unaffordable health care for the creative community”.

Kingston has a population of roughly 24,000 people.  RUPCO, the Rural Ulster Preservation Company, is based in Kingston and has been leading the way in community development and affordable housing. They offer programs in rental assistance, homeownership, and historic preservation, as well. 

The recent Lace Mill project took a handsome old boarded-up warehouse and converted it into a 55-unit residence with multiple art galleries and community spaces where residents and members of the general public can connect.

Projects like these are what keeps Kingston on the map and make it a destination for artists and first time home buyers alike and anyone looking for affordability and an easy connection to public transportation to NYC.