In a first-ever move, RUPCO will sell a smaller property in Saugerties which, officials say, will help it focus on increasing the number of affordable apartments in the area.

The Brede building, located on Partition Street, will be sold with seven apartments and two commercial storefronts. The new owners of the property have agreed to keep the apartments as affordable housing, and RUPCO will help tenants relocate if needed.

“Selling property is not an easy decision, but it is part of our strategy to achieve greater housing outcomes and meeting our mission,” said RUPCO’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin O’Connor. "Obviously, we need more housing and larger, multifamily projects help make a greater impact on meeting our communities' needs. After 42 years ... we must organize and equip ourselves to deliver on the larger mission with financial resources, staff education, recruitment, operations and administration. We recognize that it is more difficult and far less efficient to manage and support a scattering of smaller buildings."

The decision to sell the property is part of RUPCO's larger mission to build more affordable housing. It is also part of RUPCO’s evolving plan to manage and develop buildings with multiple apartments.

“Larger multi-unit buildings are enabling us to develop critically needed units of affordable housing,” O’Conner said. “But operating at a larger scale requires administration, maintenance and financial management efficiencies. Consider this: a maintenance crew dispatched to a 50-, 60- or 80-unit property can accomplish more than it can during a dispatch to a seven-unit structure.”

RUPCO manages 771 affordable apartments across 23 developments in Ulster, Orange and Greene counties.