Excellence Award Spotlight: RUPCO's Newburgh East End II
A drone photo showing the project area in Newburgh, with the Hudson River behind. The tall church in the center of the frame is the former United Methodist Church, which is now the community space Highpoint. photo courtesy of RUPCO
“We're very proud of our preservation work in the East End district of the City of Newburgh, the second-largest historic district in New York," said Kevin O'Connor, RUPCO's CEO. "Following an earlier phase, East End II adds the remarkable restoration of the former United Methodist Church and ten historic, scattered site buildings. We appreciate the recognition of the Preservation League of New York State for our efforts, as it helps highlight the critical work of saving our history for future generations to come."
Completed in 2023, East End II is RUPCO’s largest project to date. This $37-million scattered-site development includes 24 building sites spread across a 7-block radius located in New York State’s second-largest historic district. East End II includes the restoration of 10 vacant historic buildings and added new construction on 12 vacant lots – creating a total of 61 new, mixed-income homes plus a community space. In talking about the importance of preservation projects like this one, RUPCO CEO Kevin O’Connor said, “Preserving the history of a neighborhood by restoring a former church, school, and many multifamily buildings retains the story of the City of Newburgh and enables people to retain a sense of place and pride – such that they can tell the story to generations to come.” The RUPCO team noted that throughout this years-long project, they heard from many local residents, former congregants of the church, and students of the school about their experiences and their appreciation that these iconic building would be saved.
Before and After
The project includes ten apartments for formerly unhoused persons who now receive rental subsidy and case management services from an Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) grant through the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports.
In addition, RUPCO partnered with local nonprofit LYNC to adapt and reuse the former United Methodist Church as a commercial and community service hub called “Highpoint.” The campus spans an entire city block – 17,000 square feet – and includes the former Church, the newly restored 257 Liberty Street building, and the City-owned Audrey Carey Park. Managed by LYNC, Highpoint houses an event space, a co-working lounge for women of color, a retail space, a health center, and serves as the home to Newburgh YouthBuild. YouthBuild is a pre-apprenticeship training program that offers a holistic approach to prepare youth ages 16-24 for careers in the trades through skill training, education, and job placement support.
The project follows RUPCO’s East End I (completed in 2018), which created 45 mixed-income apartments in 15 buildings on a scattered-site campus, totaling 106 affordable homes developed in the heart of Newburgh. East End I also received an Excellence in Historic Preservation Award from the Preservation League back in 2019. Both projects are conveniently located adjacent to the Broadway business and government corridor, SUNY Orange (Newburgh Campus), Mount Saint Mary College, and St. Luke Cornell Hospital.
Project Team: RUPCO, developer and managing agent; Funding partners include NYS Homes and Community Renewal, NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports, NYSERDA, Orange County, Raymond James & Webster Bank; Community partners: Lync, the City of Newburgh, and the Newburgh Community Land Bank. Coppola Associates and Dutton Architecture are the project architects.