Public Mixed-Income Housing Development

Share Public Mixed-Income Housing Development on Facebook Share Public Mixed-Income Housing Development on Twitter Share Public Mixed-Income Housing Development on Linkedin Email Public Mixed-Income Housing Development link

The City of Kingston will launch a new nonprofit public enterprise to spur the development of publicly-owned affordable and mixed-income housing.

The City of Kingston developed this model in partnership with the Center for Public Enterprise, a national nonprofit that supports public agencies on development programs in the housing sector. The nonprofit will provide construction loans from a revolving loan fund to help projects through the construction phase. The model does not rely on the low-income housing tax credit program, vouchers, or any other scarce state and federal grants to be successful.

Originally piloted in Montgomery County, Maryland in 2021, this approach to mixed-income housing development is gaining momentum nationwide. It has been successfully implemented in Atlanta and there are ongoing initiatives in Raleigh, Syracuse,, Chicago, Boston, and the state of Michigan. For Kingston, this approach will leverage the development capacity of the private and non-profit sectors while creating long-term community benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will this new non-profit invest in a particular project? It is expected that the non-profit's low-interest loans will cover up to 25% of the development cost of a housing development.

Exactly how many units will be required to be affordable, and how do we define ‘affordable?’ In exchange for becoming a partner in the development, the non-profit will require that a housing development dedicate 20% of its units as affordable for Kingstonians earning less than 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). The non-profit will negotiate the affordability level on an additional 10% of the units, requiring that they be affordable to households making between 60 and 80% AMI. That means 30% of the total units will be dedicated as affordable, while the remaining 70% will rent for market rate.

How long will the affordable units be dedicated as affordable? The affordable units will be affordable permanently.

Will the non-profit do anything else besides loan? The non-profit is expected to take an active role in its investments to ensure that its development partners are taking advantage of any other possible affordable housing incentives. The non-profit will also identify opportunities to leverage publicly-owned land. The non-profit will remain a partner in its properties long-term, to ensure permanent affordability.

How will the non-profit be structured and will there be accountability measures? To enable permanent affordability, the non-profit is structured as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. It will be financially and operationally independent from the City of Kingston with its own board to allow the non-profit to operate flexibly. Its appointed board will hold public meetings and it is expected that the non-profit will issue reports to the Kingston Common Council annually.

The City of Kingston will launch a new nonprofit public enterprise to spur the development of publicly-owned affordable and mixed-income housing.

The City of Kingston developed this model in partnership with the Center for Public Enterprise, a national nonprofit that supports public agencies on development programs in the housing sector. The nonprofit will provide construction loans from a revolving loan fund to help projects through the construction phase. The model does not rely on the low-income housing tax credit program, vouchers, or any other scarce state and federal grants to be successful.

Originally piloted in Montgomery County, Maryland in 2021, this approach to mixed-income housing development is gaining momentum nationwide. It has been successfully implemented in Atlanta and there are ongoing initiatives in Raleigh, Syracuse,, Chicago, Boston, and the state of Michigan. For Kingston, this approach will leverage the development capacity of the private and non-profit sectors while creating long-term community benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much will this new non-profit invest in a particular project? It is expected that the non-profit's low-interest loans will cover up to 25% of the development cost of a housing development.

Exactly how many units will be required to be affordable, and how do we define ‘affordable?’ In exchange for becoming a partner in the development, the non-profit will require that a housing development dedicate 20% of its units as affordable for Kingstonians earning less than 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). The non-profit will negotiate the affordability level on an additional 10% of the units, requiring that they be affordable to households making between 60 and 80% AMI. That means 30% of the total units will be dedicated as affordable, while the remaining 70% will rent for market rate.

How long will the affordable units be dedicated as affordable? The affordable units will be affordable permanently.

Will the non-profit do anything else besides loan? The non-profit is expected to take an active role in its investments to ensure that its development partners are taking advantage of any other possible affordable housing incentives. The non-profit will also identify opportunities to leverage publicly-owned land. The non-profit will remain a partner in its properties long-term, to ensure permanent affordability.

How will the non-profit be structured and will there be accountability measures? To enable permanent affordability, the non-profit is structured as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. It will be financially and operationally independent from the City of Kingston with its own board to allow the non-profit to operate flexibly. Its appointed board will hold public meetings and it is expected that the non-profit will issue reports to the Kingston Common Council annually.

Page last updated: 12 Jun 2025, 02:39 PM