Twenty Pine Hill residents formed Wellington Blueberry, LLC. They purchased the Wellington Hotel and began cleaning the property with help from other community members. Along with developing partner RUPCO, the 1882-built hotel is now set for redevelopment. The ground floor will have a food market, and above it will be 10 affordable housing units. If the project receives the planned funding, construction work will start in March 2026.
Highlights
- The government and community are planning to transform the old Wellington Hotel into an affordable housing complex.
- The project has already secured a $1.6 million Restore New York grant from Empire State Development.
- The estimated cost of a 10-unit housing complex on an area of around 11,000 sq. ft. is approximately $7 million.
The Wellington Hotel’s Transformation: Revitalizing a Landmark
The Wellington Hotel was built in 1882 at 310 Main St, Pine Hill, NY. It is one of the rare Catskills resort hotels that used to be filled with visitors. This historic landmark in Pine Hill has been standing vacant for a long time now.
The residents of Pine Hill came forward to work towards the transformation of this hotel into an affordable housing complex. As Pine Hill residents do not have a nearby food store, this issue will also be addressed.
The area has limited rental housing and faces ongoing affordability challenges. The lesser availability of houses, especially affordable housing, has even led to high rental rates in recent years. The Ulster County Rental Housing Survey concluded that between 2020 and 2023, average rent prices went up by 56%. To help residents avoid spending over 30% of their income on rent, this initiative of constructing affordable rental housing was much needed.
Twenty residents have formed Wellington Blueberry, LLC. Friends of Pine Hill Historic District, a nonprofit development partner, RUPCO, have joined them in transforming this historic site.
Vision and Financial Overview of the Project
The transformation of the Wellington Hotel is a community-driven project. A renovation budget of about $7 million has been estimated for this 11,000 square foot property. The ground floor will have a food market or grocery store, which will address the issue of local options for fresh food. The new store is expected to serve both residents and visitors breakfast and lunch.
The second and third floors will be converted into 10-unit housing apartments. Half of them will be studio apartments, and the rest will be one-bedroom apartments. The Catskills workforce is the primary focus of this project.
This project is dependent on community donations and grants from the government. Wellington Blueberry, LLC has invested $600,000. The architectural drawings made by this group are approved by the National Park Service to raise around $2 million. On behalf of this project and the Town of Shandaken, Empire State Development Restore New York granted $1.6 million to Ulster County. A federal exemption declaration is still pending; by then, people can contribute tax-deductible amounts to RUPCO.
Pine Hill, New York, is near the Shandaken Rail Trail, which offers smooth connectivity. The enthusiasm and support of the Pine Hill community to revive an unused space are evident. Supporters say the project could serve as a model for other small towns facing similar housing shortages.
