Town of Ulster officials discussed earlier this month whether recent improvements at the former Rodeway Inn might be having a positive impact.
Seven months ago, county-backed renovations and a rebrand as Kingston Motel sought to turn the beleaguered emergency housing placement facility around after placements were paused in April 2023 when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation found the property was in violation of its wastewater operating permit. Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger also said there were numerous reports of poor motel conditions, and an unannounced visit to the site cinched it for her.
On October 23 of last year, the Rodeway Inn was no more, reopened as the Kingston Motel, with rooms remodeled, the parking lot resurfaced and restriped, the wastewater system was improved and brought up to compliance, a filtered water bottle refilling station added, and a playground set was installed. The improvements, which the county executive said were done at the property owner’s expense, were done so with the goal of dedicating the majority of rooms to family placements, as opposed to a mix of families and individuals.
During a meeting of the Ulster Town Board held on Thursday, May 16, town officials discussed the impact the changes at the former Rodeway Inn have had in the seven months since reopening. Building Inspector Warren Tutt said he’d just stopped by the Kingston Motel earlier in the day to get as up-to-date a report as possible.
“In the past there have been numerous issues with it when it was the Rodeway,” Tutt said. “After a brief closure, they got their sewage system back on the line to the approval of the DEC. They have imposed their trash receptacle, they cleaned up … trash on site. They have fenced off the treatment plant access, And they have also installed fencing along the entire perimeter, which overlooks Route 28; there is kind of a steep embankment, and (the fencing can stop) people possibly going over it.”
Tutt added that transportation stops along the busy road also seem to be helping.
“When I was there this afternoon there was an actual school bus on site, and I passed one coming down from up there,” Tutt said. “I’ve also witnessed UCAT buses. The foot traffic down 28 has reduced. That’s helping that situation.”
At the meeting, Ulster police chief Kyle Berardi said that a year ago, his department and other emergency services were receiving many calls from the then-Rodeway Inn. “I can say we are still receiving calls for service,” Berardi said. “Maybe not as much.”
In an email exchange last week with Hudson Valley One, Berardi provided data relating to those calls.
“There have been 12 fewer calls for service during 2024 as opposed to the same time period in 2023,” Berardi said. “The total number of calls during 2023 were 62 calls for service.”
He added that there are still improvements that could be made at the Kingston Motel.
“One of the concerns I received from some of neighbors that when there are no leaves on the trees there is visible garbage and debris over the embankment facing Route 28 that they are hoping the owner cleans up,” Berardi said. “Otherwise, we hope to continue to maintain a high level of cooperation between us and the owner.”
In a separate interview, deputy supervisor Clayton Van Kleeck said he believed things were improving at the former Rodeway Inn.
“There’s fencing, groundwork,” he said. “It’s not perfect yet, but it seems like they’re headed in the right direction. The building department considers it to be a site that is improving. Neighborhood complaints are less during the leafy season because there’s not as much a view of (the trash over the embankment) when there are leaves on the trees.”
Van Kleeck also touted the transportation improvements through UCAT and a dedicated school bus stop on the property.
“There’s still people walking on 28, but it’s less,” he said. “It didn’t increase, and it didn’t get worse.”
Van Kleeck said the town would continue to keep an eye on the Kingston Motel moving forward.
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