New 164-Unit Affordable Housing Complex Opens On Former Ulster County Jail Site

By Michael Mashburn From Daily Voice

A vacant former Ulster County Jail site has been transformed into a 164-unit affordable housing complex in Kingston.

Golden Hill Apartments, an $87 million all-electric development built on the 20-acre property once occupied by the Ulster County Jail, is officially open, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office announced Friday, Nov. 14.

The project includes two mid-rise apartment buildings, four townhomes, and a central community center. All 164 units are affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income, state officials said.

Nearly half are reserved for seniors age 62 and older, and 48 units are set aside for households eligible for onsite support services, including families experiencing homelessness.

Hochul described the project as part of a broader statewide effort to expand affordable housing options.

“Golden Hill Apartments is a bold reimagining of what was once a vacant jail into a vibrant, modern, multi-generational community that lifts up families, seniors, and those who've faced homelessness,” Hochul said.

“We know the Hudson Valley needs more affordable and supportive homes, and we’re making sure no stone is left unturned when it comes to making more homes for residents a reality.

Golden Hill Apartments received a $10 million award through the Mid-Hudson Momentum Fund and additional financing from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. The agency said it has created or preserved more than 1,100 affordable homes in Ulster County over the past five years.

The campus features landscaped outdoor areas, five playgrounds, a community plaza, a planting garden, and a wooded trail connection to the Empire State Trail. A child-care center open to the public and a fitness center are located inside the community hub. Ulster County Area Transit is expected to add a bus stop at the property later this year.

Golden Hill is fully electric and incorporates numerous sustainability measures, including rooftop solar arrays, high-performance windows, and energy recovery systems to reduce heating and cooling demand, Hochul said.

The project was co-developed by Pennrose and the Family of Woodstock, which also provides onsite support services such as case management and crisis intervention.

Funding for the development came from a broad mix of federal, state, and local sources, including tax credit equity, bonds, and clean-energy grants. Ulster County contributed American Rescue Plan Act funds to demolish the former jail structures.