POUGHKEEPSIE – , Mega Group, the developers of the Wallace Campus project on Main Street in Poughkeepsie, brought several local, county, and state elected officials to the site to announce the start of construction of the 187-unit affordable housing project. Work began in January, just a few weeks after the project received as part of Governor Hochul’s $25 billion five-year Housing Plan, which is on track to create or preserve 100,000 affordable homes statewide, according to the Governor’s Office.
The project began as a proposal eight years ago and is now underway. The mixed-use affordable housing project was stalled early on when nearby developers, including Kirchner Realty, the owner of the vacant Up To Date building just down the block, took the project to court. The plaintiffs, through their attorney, alleged in the lawsuit that “The project continues the pattern of clustering subsidized housing, and attracting new resource-dependent poverty-stricken residents to the City of Poughkeepsie, an already above-average poor community, with high unemployment, struggling schools, and a struggling economy that is losing businesses.”
Wallace eventually triumphed, paving the way for development. The project at Main Street near Catharine Street received $2.2 million in funding from the Dutchess County Housing Trust Fund in 2023. In 2022, the project received $750,00 in state funding to assist in developing the “Wallace Green” portion of the development.
Early proponent of the plan, Senator Rob Rolison, who was the Poughkeepsie mayor at the time, lauded the advancement of the work. “The former Wallace Company Department Store has long been part of Poughkeepsie’s history, and I’m very pleased to see New York State supporting its transformation into new housing and economic opportunity for our community. This project was first proposed during my time as Mayor, and I have supported it from day one because of the positive impact it could have on downtown Poughkeepsie. Thank you to the State and all of the partners involved for helping move this important investment forward.”
Mega Group Development Principal Emanuel Kokinakis said, “This transformative development is a model for how the public and private sectors can work together to address New York’s urgent need for housing. We are proud to collaborate with Ametrine Group, Mental Health America of Dutchess County, NYSHCR, Wells Fargo, the City of Poughkeepsie, and our State and local partners to reactivate this long-underutilized site in a way that will serve the needs of this community for generations to come.”
Current Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers told the attendees that she was not a supporter of the plan when it was first pitched while she was a member of the Common Council, but her opinion has since changed. “Breaking ground on this project is a big step forward as we tackle one of the most pressing challenges facing our community: affordable housing. Creating new homes that families and hard-working individuals can afford is critical to building a vibrant city where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
Mental Health of America of Dutchess (MHA) is part of the development, with plans to have three MHA Dutchess case managers at the campus to assist those in need of services. MHA Dutchess Chief Executive Officer Andrew O’Grady said, “This project reflects a big part of the MHA of Dutchess County’s core mission — meeting people where they are and providing housing that promotes dignity, recovery, and long-term stability. The supported apartments at Wallace Campus will offer residents not only a home, but a strong foundation for improved health and community integration.”
The Wallace Campus is a 187-unit affordable and supportive housing development that includes the transformation of a former department store as well as new construction. All units will be affordable to households earning up to 80 percent of the Area Median Income. The non-building elements of the project include a large landscaped open space within the center of the campus, called “Wallace Green”, open to the public on the same schedule as public parks in the City. The project also provides a new pedestrian connection between Main Street and Mill Street at Conklin Street.
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