NoVo in Kingston and Boys and Girls Club of Ulster County Announce Opening of the Greenkill House

NoVo in Kingston and the Boys and Girls Club of Ulster County are excited to announce the opening of the Greenkill House, a new resource for Midtown youth ages 16-24+. An Open House celebration and community meal will be held at the space on Thursday, November 9th at 5 pm. All are welcome to attend.

Located at 127 Greenkill Avenue, the building will be managed by the Boys & Girls Club of Ulster County, whose Kingston Unit for children ages 8 to 18 is adjacent to the newly opened space.

“We are deeply committed to supporting young people in Kingston to develop agency in their lives,” commented Peter Buffett, Managing Director of NoVo in Kingston. “As the cost of living continues to rise in Kingston, which has only worsened since the pandemic, it is becoming increasingly difficult for young adults who would like to stay in their home community. The intention of The Greenkill House is to not only support youth to gain skills and educational and employment opportunities – those will certainly be offered – but also to support participants to develop a vision for their future and help in achieving their self-directed goals. The Boys and Girls Club of Ulster County has a long history of working with youth, sparking their imagination, hope, and belief in oneself, and we look forward to the Club continuing this approach at The Greenkill House.”

Dan Whalen, Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club, said the Greenkill House opening will fill an unmet need in the community. The Boys & Girls Club has hired Matthew Stote, a volunteer basketball coach at Kingston High School, as a Career Enrichment Director for the Greenkill House. Stote previously worked in the banking industry as a financial advisor.

“One of the biggest concerns of our team is the lack of guidance for our youth once they age out of the Club,” said Whalen. “Our focus over the next year will be continuing to build the trusted relationships we have by offering support and guidance as young adults transition from structure and routine of high school to new college and career opportunities. Our programming will be designed to help develop the life skills necessary to succeed when faced with inevitable bumps in the road.”

Currently in development, future programming offered at the Greenkill House will include financial literacy skills, career exploration, job interview training, college search workshops, and more.

The Greenkill House was built in 1876, and was vacant and in disrepair prior to NoVo’s purchase. A multi-year renovation, which including repointing the aging foundation, was undertaken to restore the building. The new space is fully modernized, including ADA accessibility, while retaining its historical and neighborhood character. Midtown-based firm Dutton Architecture led the renovation.

All services at The Greenkill House will be offered free of charge. Visitors and program participants do not need to have been prior participants of the Boys and Girls Club to access programming and services at The Greenkill House.