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Senate House State Historic Site In Kingston Starts $1.8 Million Restoration
The Senate House State Historic Site at 296 Fair Street in Kingston in undergoing major preservation work in anticipation of nation’s semi-quincentennial in 2026.
This restoration project is supported with $1,075,000 from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) capital budget and a $750,000 grant from the National Park Service Historic Preservation Fund and the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC). The improvements are in anticipation of commemorating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
The Senate House was the 18th century home of the Van Gaasbeek family and the first meeting place of the New York State Senate in 1777. Adopted as an historic site in 1887, the Senate House quickly became a vital community museum and features exhibits relating to Kingston’s history.
The $1.8 million preservation work involves both the historic Senate House and the 1927 Museum Building, centering around the preservation of the structures to stop water damage.
The Senate House will receive a roof replacement, including framing and dormer window repairs, and exterior masonry restoration. The Museum Building will receive roof and window repair along with repair of the front porch. Both buildings will be tied into a new system designed to improved site drainage. All the work will be period-appropriate and adhere to strict historic preservation standards. Work is slated to continue through the remainder of 2025. Due to the project, some programs, tours, and education programs may be unavailable during construction.
“This is a necessary project that strikes at the heart of our agency,” said OPRHP Commissioner Pro Tempore Randy Simons. “As we approach America’s 250th anniversary celebration, Senate House reinforces the importance of all our historical sites and what we can learn from them. This historic house in modern-day Kingston offers a story that connects us to our lives today. It’s something we can see and touch as part of New York State’s diverse history. Rehabilitation projects like these are vital and we are proud to see these investments help keep our historic structures alive and thriving in the 21st century.”
The Senate House also serves as the focal point of the annual Burning of Kingston commemoration reenacting the American Revolutionary War events of 1777, and the life and times of Kingston’s people. Programming highlights the human impact of war, the perseverance and resilience of a community, and offers an opportunity to understand the larger historical arc of the American Revolutionary War.
Frito-Lay Shutters PopCorners Plant In Liberty, NY; Lays Off 287 Workers
All 287 workers at the Frito-Lay manufacturing factory in Sullivan County, New York, will be terminated by June 6, according to a WARN notice filed with the New York State Department of Labor. PepsiCo is closing the factory at 89 Mill Street in Liberty, New York, that manufactures PopCorners snacks.
Layoffs are scheduled to begin May 21. PepsiCo said it will be working with the employees as well as local community officials to support the workers’ transition. Workers will be paid through May 20.
The closure is part of a series of plant closures for Pepsico which shuttered a Quaker Oats factory in Danville, Illinois, and bottling plants in Cincinnati; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Atlanta.
Pepsico acquired the Liberty plant in 2019 as part of its acquisition of BFY Foods, the original maker of PopCorners.
“This plant has played a vital role in producing our beloved PopCorners brand, but the pace of growth for this product line paired with broader industry pace of growth has made it difficult to sustain the site’s long-term viability,” PepsiCo Foods U.S. said in a statement. “We deeply appreciate the contributions of our Liberty employees, and this decision does not diminish the value of their hard work and dedication.”
In a joint statement, Sullivan County Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz and Village of Liberty Mayor Joan said, “We are deeply concerned about PepsiCo’s decision to shutter their Liberty food manufacturing facility, which has been an integral part of our community for decades and employs hundreds of locals. This action will have many impacts, which we intend to sort out with PepsiCo’s assistance in the coming weeks.”
Housing Options Considered For Kingston Business Park
The City of Kingston has contracted with the firms of Buro Happold, MVRDV and Assemblage to provide architectural, design and landscaping concepts for potential housing and/or mixed-used developments in the Kingston Business Park.
The City of Kingston and the Kingston Local Development Corporation (KLDC) are testing the feasibility of adding housing to the Kingston Business Park, the 107-acre property located at 370-384 Delaware Avenue, currently owned by the KLDC.
The Business Park, first established in 1998, was originally designed to accommodate four to five light manufacturing facilities totaling 300,000-500,000 square feet, utilizing approximately 40-50 acres for commercial development. Currently, there are two active commercial tenants: Howmet Aerospace and Community Manufacturing Solutions.
An initial site analysis reviewed the undeveloped parcels in the Business Park, exploring possible types of residential and/or mixed-used development under the City’s new form-based zoning code. Infrastructure to support the development of residential units is already in place.
The study was funded by an allocation of the City of Kingston’s American Rescue Plan funding from the federal government.
Kingston currently has several hundred new housing units planned, including 200 units on Garraghan Drive, 164 units at Golden Hill, 70 units at 615 Broadway, and 100 units at the Barrel Factory site.
The conceptual plan for the Business Park includes multiple housing and mixed-use options. Challenges include wetlands and core forest protection, limits imposed by steep slopes, and environmental issues stemming from the site’s mining history.
