By Rebecca Martin
At last evening’s Town of Ulster Board meeting, Warren Tutt, the building inspector for the Town of Ulster, provided an overview of his inspection of the Kingston Hotel. On September 18, 2025, he conducted a four-hour inspection, gaining access to 61 of the hotel’s 66 rooms. Every room inspected was found to have violations.
WATCH the recorded meeting on Facebook. Starts at 1:31:31
He reported issues ranging from mold to bed bugs and cockroach infestations. Even the six vacant rooms had violations, and he stated those rooms should not be offered until they are fully brought up to code.
The Kingston Hotel was originally approved by the Town to operate as a transient hotel, but it is now being used as long-term housing—without any of the infrastructure required to safely support that use. There are no proper kitchen facilities, no legal multi-family approvals, and none of the protections expected in regulated residential housing.
When asked why the inspection didn’t happen earlier, Supervisor James Quigley responded, “BOCES.” He noted that the building department had been tied up with other projects and only initiated the inspection about five weeks ago, after a report by Kingston Wire brought public attention to the issue. But people have been talking about the poor conditions at the Kingston Hotel for much longer than that.
As for how the inspection was carried out, the building inspector explained that there are three legal ways to gain access: permission from the owner, permission from a registered tenant over 18, or a court order. In this case, the owner provided him a key.
The Town issued a Notice of Violation, giving the property owner 30 days to fix the problems, with a deadline of October 31st.
Supervisor Quigley confirmed that the Ulster County Executive’s office has been briefed on the findings. According to Quigley, County officials were “shocked” by the report.
Policing of the property has also increased. Quigley said that the Ulster Police Department has been monitoring the hotel for nearly two years. In September, the Town entered into a formal agreement with the property owner to provide additional patrols, with the owner billed monthly for the added presence.
“There’s a concern for the safety of the people living there, and for the surrounding community.” Supervisor Quigley said.
According to the Ulster County Comptroller’s report released in April 2025, emergency housing costs are substantial and growing. By 2024, the cost per room for emergency housing is $102.86. For the Kingston Hotel, if all 66 rooms were occupied year round, the total would be $6,788.76 per day, or $2,477,897 per year. That’s a significant amount of money for the Kingston Hotel. So why is maintenance being deferred?
“This is a commercial relationship between the County and the owner,” Quigley said. “They have the responsibility to apply pressure to bring the building into compliance.”
The Town has not yet determined what enforcement action it will take if the property is not brought up to code by October 31st, though options include issuing further violations or pursuing legal action.
When hotels and motels end up being used for long-term housing, shouldn’t they be required to meet at least the bare minimum standards of a studio apartment? This stopgap solution that costs taxpayers millions each year and yet families are left to live in unsafe and unhealthy conditions. If property owners are making a profit by effectively operating these rooms as unintended long-term housing, where is the accountability? Are there any requirements in place to enforce safe, livable conditions? There should be. The ongoing neglect is inhumane.
ADDITIONAL READING
Lessons from Kingston, NY (Tenants PAC)
Families stuck for years in Hudson Valley motels, ‘just trying to survive’ (TIMES UNION)
Hello, I’m hoping this will reach appropriate parties responsible for the total neglected housing apartments for Blair road rupco apartments, I’ve seen the conditions of these apartments and they are deplorable.
I have no idea how the state of N.Y; can send money to these projects so managers can pocket the money,!!! because it CERTAINLY IS NOT GOING INTO THE UPKEEP AND GOD GIVEN STATE PRIVILEGE OF LAW CODES OF SAFETY AND PROTECTED CITIZENS, IN REAL TIME.
THE PROJECTS ARE NEGLECTED AND BRINGS LEGITIMATELY HEINOUS DAMAGE TO ITS CITIZENS, ALSO WHY WOULD THERE BE A MANAGER, IN OLACMENT EITHOUT PERFECT ATTENTION TO DETAILS. THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE IN THESE APARTMENTS NEED TO HAVE PROPER TREATMENT BEFORE THE STATE PILLS THEIR FUNDING DOR HAVING TO CONDEMN THE APARTMENTS FOR SUCH POOR UPKEEP. I HOPE SOMEONE TAKES THIS SAD OBSERVATION, OF NO MANAGERIAL SUSTAINING, OF BLAIR ROAD, AND IM SURE OF OTHER PLACES, DUE TO THE TIME IF FIRST SEEING THESE APARTMENTS, THEN AFTER YEARS OF WAITING ,AFTER TELLING THE CONDITIONS OF THOSE APARTMENTS, AND I MADE TROORTD TO HEALTH DEPARTMENT WITH DETAILS IF NEED IF UPDATES TO HELP THE PEOPLE LIVING THERE, TO BE TREATED WITH GOD GIVEN RIGHTS OF RESPECT. BUT THE COMPLEX MANAGER HAS DELAYED ANY UPKEEP PLANS AND PROMISED, FIXING OF THE CODES VIOLATIONS, AND HUMANITARIAN MENDING IF THE STRESS OF KIVING IN THISE HIRRIBLE CONDITIONS, WITH PROMT ATTENTION, WHICH AFTER THE FIRST TIME I SAW THEM, 6 YEARS AGO, HAS NOT BEEN FIXED AS OF YET.
THE WALLS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE PAINTED BY LAW, EVERY 3 YEARS, THATS A VIOLATION!
THE RUGS HAVENT VEEN CHANGED IN WHAT SEEMS TO LOOK IN FOREVER.
GROSS, VIOLATIONS!
WINDOW TIGHT YET NEEDS UPDATE.
HIW MUCH DOES SOACKLE COST? $40. A BUCKET? THOUSANDS CANT COVER THAT ,FROM THE FUNDING PROVIDED???
MY BOOTY,
IM APPALLED AT THE BLATANT DISRESPECTFUL AND RUDE TREATMENT OF THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THERE, ANS THE COUCHING FROM THE FUMES OF (PROBABLY THAT OLD) LED PAINT IT LOOKS THAT OLD
ITS DEFINITELY NOT LONG ISLAND,
THEY WOULDN’T EVER HAVE A HOME IN DISARRAY. I WOULD SUGGEST, SOMEINE GETS THIS MANAGER IN GEER IF FIRED AND REOEKACE HER/GE WITH A REAL LOVING CARING MANAGER WHOM DOESN’T PUSSYFOOT AROUND, NEGLECTING THE UPKEEP, ANY LONGER , FROM THIS CURRENT MANAGED FACILITY.
WHAT US WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE.
THE STATE CAN COME IN ANY DAY NOW AND WHIPE IT ALL CLEAN. MANAGER FIRST!
THE TENANTS CAN BE HELPED TO MOVE THEIR PERSONAL BELONGINGS TO THE STORAGE FACILITY CLOSE BY, WITH A MOVING COMPANY THAT DELICATELY handles their belongings, with gentle hospitality, WITH INSURANCE of course,
AND THE RESIDENTS CAN BE HELPED, I nro a highly enjoyable resort, like honors haven’t to house them while the projects are completely done.( With consistsant maintenance), the project shouldn’t take more than a year. I’m sure can be done, with 6 months grace period.
The trauma
Of living in those apartments
Should be promptly handled
Due to I’ll have the state come tomorrow, if it’s not done and won’t stop till these people have justice.
It needs to be fixed now.
No if ands or gossip butts
Get it together already
I’m sick of the pathetic treatment in ulster county.
Across the political party boards
Just stop the lazyass whining and get it done
Spoken Like a true trooper,
Thanks for passing this and other written decorations as well as calls to the appreciate party responsible for the sickening damages.
And their overseers who should be fired as well. Something better be done a out these apartments living conditions, before I physically go to Albany and report your asses!! Get the rugs and walls ceilings ECT do we now. Focus. It’s strongly suggested
Do it now, clean up the old rugs and spackle and paint the walls, the state should pay these people restitution, for living in such poor conditions. They need to stop getting away with abuse of the citizens.
If I don’t see real help being given to these people in a short span of time I will call legal authority. P.s. cabinets need updates as well. Tile floors too. Thank you God, for helping these, what was once delay,
Get on the ball, and stop treating others the way they wouldn’t ever wish to be treated. It’s disgusting