615 Broadway in Kingston: A New Chapter for Midtown

For years, the vacant property at 615 Broadway has been the kind of place Kingston residents notice without necessarily stopping to look. The former King's Inn came down in 2011, and the half-acre lot in the middle of a busy corridor has felt like a pause button on an entire neighborhood ever since. Now that pause is ending.

What Is Planned for 615 Broadway?

On September 23, 2026, Kingston officials and development partners marked the groundbreaking of a $30.2 million mixed-use project at the Midtown site. Plans call for 70 housing units and more than 8,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, plus 37 parking spaces and six permanent jobs.

The residential mix breaks down to 10 studios, 44 one-bedroom units, and 16 two-bedroom units. Fourteen units — 20 percent — will be designated affordable, while the remaining workforce housing will be priced for households earning 80 to 120 percent of the area median income.

That combination matters because a building that adds residents without engaging the street can feel very different from one that also brings storefront activity. New retail or service spaces could increase foot traffic and create more reasons to spend time in Midtown. Of course, the precise businesses that will eventually occupy those spaces have not been announced in the city's groundbreaking update.

The project is being developed with Baxter DevCo, the Poughkeepsie-based community development firm the city selected through a 2022 request for proposals. The Planning Board approved the site plan in June 2025.

A Plaza That Honors Kingston's Creative History

City officials say construction is expected to generate about 60 construction jobs, with 90 percent of the work performed by local labor. A publicly accessible courtyard will be dedicated as the Pauline Oliveros Deep Listening Plaza, honoring the Kingston-born composer who helped pioneer the practice of deep listening and made the city her home for decades.

That artistic tribute signals an ambition for the project to contribute to Midtown's identity, not just its building count.

Why Redeveloping This Property Matters

The long-vacant 0.78-acre location is a brownfield site, and redevelopment includes remediation work — a state environmental decision on the cleanup remedy was issued in September 2026. Turning underused land into active space can make surrounding blocks feel more connected, though the long-term effect will depend on construction, tenant mix and public access.

The housing component also arrives amid ongoing conversations about affordability, growth and who gets to remain in Kingston. Readers should distinguish the confirmed 70-unit plan from assumptions about final rents, opening dates or the affordability of every apartment. Those details require separate verification as the project advances.

For businesses nearby, the immediate experience may include construction activity before any long-term benefit is felt.

What Kingston Should Watch Next

For residents, the real measure of success will be what the site contributes to everyday life after the ribbon-cutting photographs are forgotten. Will the new street-level spaces welcome the neighborhood? Will the plaza feel inviting? Will the development strengthen connections along Broadway, just steps from the UPAC?

615 Broadway is more than one new building project; it is a test of what Midtown revitalization can look like on the ground.

More Information

Official details: City of Kingston — 615 Broadway Project Announcement · City of Kingston — Redevelopment of 615 Broadway project page · Mid Hudson News — Kingston breaks ground on $30.2M mixed-use development on Broadway

 Announcement