Centered around one of Middletown's most inviting parks, Upper Arlington is a neighborhood of higher quality homes. While a traditional street grid exists, the streets are curved for visual interest.

 

 

From Hamilton Historian Jim Blount:

Upper Arlington is a Middletown residential area. The plat for the 104-acre development, said George Crout, was filed May 20, 1920, by Nein Brothers Realty. "This area was annexed to the city in 1915, and was both north and south of Central Avenue. It was considered a most desirable development and the name had a special upper class ring to it." Crout believes "it was probably named from Arlington, Va." The area around Sunset Park includes the present streets of Kenwood, Ardmore, Aberdeen, Hampton, Sheldon, Milton, Fleming, Elmo and Shafor.

 

Sunset Park is one of Middletown's leading parks

 

 

Sunset Pool. Recently reopened this year, its closure made Middletown Ohio's largest city without a municipal pool between 2005 and 2006.

 

 

Looks like a Valen building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Middletown has at least two Lustons, one here in Upper Arlington

 

 

Looks like a garage add-on

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two apartment buildings exist in the otherwise single-family hood

 

 

 

Odd juxtaposition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A great house, but it needs some care

 

 

 

 

 

:-)

 

 

 

 

 

Larger homes were constructed on the Central Ave frontage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of several historic schools Middletown is tearing down, Roosevelt is to come down in 2008. The school fronts Sunset Park, although only a small strip of land connects the two. Preservationrestoration is coping with the loss by putting on a happy face and looking forward to opening up Sunset to Central Ave, but the city would really need to acquire a couple properties to really link the old school site and Sunset.

 

"In the way" properties

 

Roosevelt facade

 

 

 

I used to have to go to swim meets up at Sunset Park and I remember the houses along the drive in by the park were a lot larger (maybe over by the hospital?).  Anyways, great pics.

^Yep, larger homes are on the other side of Central, around the hospital.

Didn't know about Ohio's other UA.

Attractive neighborhood, with an interesting variety of housing styles. It's a shame they can't find a use for the school, but there's only so much demand for senior housing and the maintenance on big old buildings can be pretty costly.

^As preservationrestoration has brought up several times, Roosevelt would have been perfect for Middletown's senior center, which is building a new facility just up the street currently. What I find interesting is the fact that new condos are scheduled to go on the old hospital site, just a couple blocks from the school; if there is such a need in that area, Roosevelt would have been a great conversion.

 

Regardless, Roosevelt should have been maintained as a school. McKinley too.

I have a friend that lived there.  They moved to West Chester (of course).

I have a friend that lived there.  They moved to West Chester (of course).

You should disown them.

^As preservationrestoration has brought up several times, Roosevelt would have been perfect for Middletown's senior center, which is building a new facility just up the street currently. What I find interesting is the fact that new condos are scheduled to go on the old hospital site, just a couple blocks from the school; if there is such a need in that area, Roosevelt would have been a great conversion.

 

Regardless, Roosevelt should have been maintained as a school. McKinley too.

 

Yup that was my idea.  But who am I?  I'm still not convinced the school will come down :)

Some more comments now that I have more time.

 

Thanks for the pictures Ink.  The streets to the West of Sunset are the oldest homes and are more likely to need some work.  The area to the west merges into another neighborhood known as Park Place.

 

Sunset Park is where NBA legend and great Jerry Lucas got his start.  It was also where yours truly was first paid $1 to jump off the high-dive at the pool when I was 6.  I got paid with a silver dollar to which I replied, I want a bill :)  I went to the pool for the first time this summer in more than 20 years.  I could not believe how great it looked.  You would have never thought that it had been closed for two years and needed so much work.  But that's Middletown for you.  The people are generous and work hard to better the community.

 

Upper Arlington is still one of my favorite neighborhoods.  The homes were built anywhere from the 1910s to the 1950s and are better maintained as you move east.  The neighborhoods is very diverse with home styles.  Most were built between 1920 and 1940.  You have your Sears home kits, your Mediterranean-influenced homes to even a few 50s style ranches.  I've heard people complain that it is a mismatch of styles, but to me, that is part of its charm.  Also in the neighborhood along with Sunset Park is Wildwood Country Club.  It is truly an all-American neighborhood.  The white ranch with yellow shutters and all that landscaping is one of my favorites and I'm not typically a fan of ranch-style homes.

 

The landscape of the neighborhood (and the surrounding neighborhood) will change drastically if Roosevelt school does indeed come down and when the old hospital comes down.

 

I fear that this neighborhood will deteroriate as the growth continues to move East.  Hopefully every effort will be made to maintain its charm.  It's already starting to show downward signs.

The closest I've been to this neighborhood is driving through on Central Avenue, enough to know it's Middletown's answer to Hamilton's Highland Park.  I never knew it was called Upper Arlington; I thought that was reserved for part of Columbus' west side.

 

One interesting item:  my 1989 Ohio DeLorme atlas mistakenly calls Middletown "Upper Arlington" on the map on the back!  Now I know where that error came from!