The Kingston Common Council voted unanimously to approve a plan to transfer a former tavern to a nonprofit group for use as a “free store.”

During a caucus meeting Monday evening, lawmakers asked questioned and requested a minor change in the agreement between the city and the charity Beyond the 4 Walls, but made no objections to the proposed property transfer. The full council okayed the plan at its Tuesday meeting.

The former Grand Slam tavern at 46 Grand Street has been shuttered for a decade and is currently held by the city for unpaid taxes. The plan calls for the city to transfer the property to Beyond the 4 Walls for $1. The nonprofit group founded by Kingston resident Greg McCollough assists needy families in Midtown Kingston. McCullough's endeavor started at his Van Buren Street home in 2018 by distributing clothes, household items and non-perishable food; a “community fridge” was added in 2020.

But, the operation is still run from McCollough’s home. The porch, now crowded with donated goods has been cited by the city’s Building Department as a code violation and safety hazard.

“The idea here is to codify a place where this project can go on,” said Alderman Rennie Scott-Childress (D-Ward 3). "But will also allow Greg to move stuff out of his house’s front yard where it has been a bone of contention with folks because of building and safety issues.”

Last month, McCollough told members of the council’s Finance Committee that the charity planned to staff the store at regular hours and that the two-story building on Grand Street would have ample room to store donations inside. But Alderman Tony Davis (D-Ward 6) asked Corporation Counsel Barbara Graves-Poller to include language in the property transfer agreement explicitly forbidding storing items outdoors at the new location. Graves-Poller also assured lawmakers that the agreement would also contain a reverter clause stipulating that the property be returned to the city if Beyond the 4 Walls ceases to operate, or no longer maintains the Grand Street location as a free store.

McCollough did not offer a time frame for opening at the new location. But in a memo to the council, architectural designer Alicia Armbruster said she’s offered her services to the effort to renovate the former tavern at bring it into compliance with the building code. Armbruster said that she had already met with Beyond the 4 Walls representatives and that the charity had plans in place for a phased overhaul of the building.

On Wednesday, McCollough expressed gratitude to the city. “On behalf of Beyond the 4 Walls outreach program and myself, Gregory McCollough, thank you all so very much for your support, generosity and outpouring of the love shown to the organization,” he wrote. “We just want to be a part of the solution. Helping those that are vulnerable and to all that need a little help from time to time. We love helping out neighbors and want to see everyone not survive but thrive. We're here to stay!”