Hi there,

 

I suppose I should introduce myself as I am new to the forum.  I haven't lived in Ohio for over 40 years but was born in Middletown, grew up in Chicago, and live in Seoul, Korea.  I visited Middletown often through my childhood, staying downtown at the now shuttered Manchester Inn.  My love of cities came from those many stays downtown.  (grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, so our stays there was my first real exposure to "urbanity").  Over the decades I watched my hometown slowly crumble, and have always kept tabs on the situation in Middletown.  Well, just recently, my folks moved back to Middletown from Chicago and I am looking to invest in the area. 

 

I know the town is struggling, but there are finally signs of a rebirth downtown, small signs, but hopeful ones.  Believe it or not, but there is quite a large Middletown diaspora that has such fond memories of their hometown, and I believe many, like my folks and I are willing to help that rebirth happen. 

 

Anyhow, here is a recent news report on some of the changes happening in downtown Middletown.

 

http://www.fox19.com/video?clipId=8031881&autostart=true

Very nice story! (I mean your personal story, though the news story is cool, too.) Welcome to UrbanOhio, and good luck!

 

Maybe you can look south for some inspiration, as there is a lot going on in Cincinnati at the moment. You are probably aware.

 

Great to hear Middletown is getting some well-deserved love! :)

Thanks Nat...  Here is a story about the enrollment success at Cin.State's new downtown Middletown campus.  The long term goal is to grow the campus to 5,000 students.  If they can manage that, downtown Middletwon will start to boom.. 

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/cincinnati-state-middletown-exceeds-enrollment-goa/nTSkq/

 

One thing that many don't realize about Middletown's current woes is the negative effect the encroaching Dayton and Cincy sprawl has had on the community.  30-40 years ago, the city was still somewhat isolated from the sprawl and middle/upper class Middletonians largely stayed in the city, forming a very solid civic elite.  Well, the last few decades of suburban sprawl barreling towards Middletown gave many folks more options for nearby housing/schools.  But at some point, it seems to me the process will reverse and the incredible housing stock and more urban fabric of Middletwon may gain more appeal to folks choosing to live between the two merging metros.  Time will tell....

 

Middletown should annex nearby twp's such as Clear creek and Turtle creak twp. They they can control development somewhat.

Some friends of mine purchased the Sorg Opera house earlier this year and are working to rehabilitate it. That place is such a gem!

 

 

If the Sorg renovation is successful, it really could become an engine for downtown, attracting attention/visitors from throughout the region.

 

Another business just opened downtown and two more restaurants are slated to open soon...there really is the first real sense of momentum.  With three million people within an hour's drive, I really see downtown Middletown becoming the urban surprise story of Ohio over the next decade.  Personally I think it would be awesome to have a thriving urban district between Cincy/Dayton and not just the regular sprawl...

 

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/news/downtown-buzz-attracts-another-new-business/nT2PR/

 

 

If anyone sees this in time and wants to help participate in Middletown's gathering renaissance, you are invited to join in this volunteer project.  For those in the Dayton/Cincy area, might be a good chance to see one of the region's gems prior to total renovation.  Afterwords I recommend dinner at @TheSquare.  If I weren't in Asia, I'd be there. 

 

http://www.middletownjournal.com/news/news/the-sorg-to-get-a-cleanup/nWMqr/

 

 

The Ohio Challenge, Middletown's Hot Air Balloon and Skydiving Festival is this weekend.  Would be a nice chance for those in SW Ohio who haven't visited Middletown to check out the area/downtown.  They are expecting 40,000 visitors.

 

http://www.ohiochallenge.com/b/

 

and here's the schedule of events

 

http://www.ohiochallenge.com/b/index.php/events/event-schedule

 

 

 

This would be great news for downtown Middletown if it comes to pass.  Lots of talk about demolishing this building which would ruin one of Middletown's best intact streetwalls.

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/city-gets-offer-for-old-rose-furniture-building/nYtKQ/

 

More great news for Middletown.  Downtown's most beautiful building, the abandoned Fifth Third bank building is going to be renovated into 24-28 apartments, the downtown's first residential development in ages.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2013/09/06/vacant-middletown-building-to-be.html

Oh wow.  That's awesome!

 

 

appears that more restaurants might be heading downtown.......seems like the beginning of a critical mass is about to be achieved

 

http://thinkmiddletown.com/new-restaurants-coming-downtown/

 

and if anyone is interested in helping downtown Middletown's crown jewel,the Sorg Opera House, return to its former splendor, they have 10 more days on a matching kickstarter fundraiser.  The Sorg's rejuvenation, rebirth could help securethe rebirth of a true urban area between Cincy and Dayton that could set the stage eventually for true demand for rail travel in the region. Middletown is the missing link.

 

 

 

 

 

another key to the Renaissance appears to finally be in motion.  Hope this project succeeds.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2014/02/05/historic-middletown-building-to.html?page=all

 

Two things to report...both good news.  the historic Manchester Inn is finally going to be remodeled

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2014/09/27/manchester-hotel-middletown-renovation/16330269/

 

And next door, Middletown will be getting its first brewpub.  Combined this will go a long way into pumping more blood into downtown Middletown.

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/local/microbrew-planned-for-downtown-middletown/nhYRx/

 

 

 

Always good news.

^ cool. and a belated welcome. its good to see the other cities in ohio represented instead of so much about the 3C's and the 3 red-headed stepsisters. ha. i hope you post more often and add middletown photo threads.

Not actually in Middletown but my Folks recently returned there...will be visiting next Spring or Summer.  Will certainly explore a bit of the old hometown and add some photos.  according to them, there is finally a sense of turning a corner.  It's also interesting that so much of the recent investment is coming from outside the region.  This brewery and the Manchester are being done by Chicago area investors, the insanely opulent Sorg Mansion is being undertaken by an East Coast Couple and the Sorg Opera house by a consortium, most if not all I believe are from outside the city.

 

It will be interesting to see if more Cin-Day folks pick up on what outsiders see....a potential urban gem with great bones and housing stock smack between the two metros on the State's busiest interstate .....seems like a no-brainier.

Glad to see this, hoping for the best!

 

Issue with Middletown is AK. No one wants to live near it. Shut it down, move the Cincinnati and Dayton airports to the site, and Middletown would be doing a whole lot better.

 

I have no problem with manufacturing, it's part of Middletown's history and still provides taxes and jobs.  Plus, steel-making is cleaner than it has ever been and there is the whole rise of rust belt chic.  Seems to me like many smart millenials will aim for a 70,000 a year skilled manufactiuring job over a dead end 35,000 a year office job. 

 

Anyhow, it seems like the slow emergence from the near-death experience Middletown has recently witnessed is beginning to get noticed.  Here is a story, with a 3 minute newsclip from a Cincinnati station.

 

http://www.local12.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/middletown-makes-improvements-its-downtown-19453.shtml

Some good news on the Goetz Tower renovation...with a nice pic of this sweet Art Deco gem.

 

http://www.urbancincy.com/2015/02/state-historic-tax-credit-expected-to-boost-3-1m-renovation-of-goetz-tower/#disqus_thread

 

 

Ok...technically this is not about downtown Middletown, but still big news for the city

 

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2015/02/23/ak-steel-research-center/23897293/

Great for Middletown! Between this and the 680 job call center moving into Hamilton, this has been a good week for Butler County's urban communities!

Well, it's going to be out by the interstate. I'm not sure where the existing building is, but I suspect it is this one: http://goo.gl/maps/c3o2A. It's been many years since I was on their campus (dad worked for AK Steel Ashland Works).

Well, it's going to be out by the interstate. I'm not sure where the existing building is, but I suspect it is this one: http://goo.gl/maps/c3o2A. It's been many years since I was on their campus (dad worked for AK Steel Ashland Works).

 

AK's Research Building is actually not on their main manufacturing campus. It stands next to their old headquarters location on Curtis Street, close to downtown. The old building is actually a pretty interesting Art Deco structure that I suspect AK will demolish as they did their Beaux Arts headquarters building.

 

http://www.roadarch.com/deco/oh3.html

 

 

haven't updated this in awhile

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/variety-store-opens-in-downtown-middletown/nnCFz/

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/triple-moon-giving-downtown-middletown-another-jol/nmw3d/

 

the Momentum continues...

here are some pics that to me, show, downtown Middletown's essence/potential......good bones, unbeatable location...with or without Schwarber.

 

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/960/img/photos/2015/10/08/37/c0/100915-downtown-Middletown-01.jpg

 

http://media.cmgdigital.com/shared/lt/lt_cache/thumbnail/960/img/photos/2013/09/09/74/56/centralave1.jpg

 

http://pics4.city-data.com/cpicv/vfiles19829.jpg

^Who or what is Schwarber?

 

 

He is the Chicago Cubs slugger that some are comparing to Babe Ruth...he's a rockstar in Chicago, and is from Middletown.  (Chicagoan here, born in Middletown).  If the Cubs win the World Series, either this year or next (he's only like 24?)...one of the city's greatest sports icons is very likely to be Kyle Schwarber of Middletown, Ohio.

 

 

aljzeerah does an artile on Middletown?  odd..

 

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/11/15/community-college-good-for-ohio-town.html

Been awhile since I updated but there has been accelerating growth downtown. Visit every few months and notice something new every time.  26 new businesses opened in downtown Middletown last year and more on the way.

 

http://www.journal-news.com/news/downtown-middletown-looks-build-upon-whirlwind-growth/mQUajY5HhkObmEihtxkN1M/

Starbucks is on the Story, said it before, Middletown is about to surprise, if not shock a lot of folks. <p><a href="https://news.starbucks.com/news/upstanders-saving-middletown?wvideo=9ejfgp8pn8"><img src="https://embedwistia-a.akamaihd.net/deliveries/0e757b4c15b011112f11268d7bc2982c46a6cead.jpg?image_play_button_size=2x&image_crop_resized=960x540&image_play_button=1&image_play_button_color=00704ae0" width="400" height="225" style="width: 400px; height: 225px;"></a></p><p><a href="https://news.starbucks.com/news/upstanders-saving-middletown?wvideo=9ejfgp8pn8">Upstanders: Saving Middletown | Starbucks Newsroom</a></p>