Posted October 23, 200915 yr Middletown is planning to use federal NSP funding to demolish nearly a half block of downtown, including the Studio Theater. Constructed in 1929 as the Strand Theater, the building has been underutilized since the Studio closed in 1984. The adjacent building (as you will see) is in terrible shape, has suffered fire damage, and is not as interesting architecturally, so it is a different story than the theater. Former Central Avenue movie theater slated for demolition Ed Richter October 18, 2009 MIDDLETOWN - It originally opened nearly 80 years ago as a place to catch a movie on a Saturday. But by year's end, the former Strand Theater on Central Avenue, later known as the Studio, will be demolished. The former movie theater and the former bar adjacent to it in the 1300 block of Central Avenue are on the city's demolition list as part of its effort to clear blighted and unsafe buildings and set it aside for future development. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=12B6AD55763CCBD0&p_docnum=1 Rear of the building neighboring the theater Rear of the Studio To be the last significant building on the block Goodbye...
October 23, 200915 yr The exteriors appear to be in fair condition. I don't see the rush. And judging by the rest of the street, even if there was new development you can expect to look like highway commercial and plenty of parking. That's really shame, I think this is a big mistake.
October 26, 200915 yr I live in Middletown now...have for just about 5 yrs...I was glad to see the photos posted, and I am also of the opinion that it's a shame that those buildings are being torn down The more I learn of Middletown's past, the more fascinating it becomes to me...I REALLLLY hope they do more than turn it into another parking lot... :-(
October 26, 200915 yr The city released conceptual plans late summer developed by Woolpert for downtown redevelopment. I hadn't paid all that close attention to the plans but more recently when I looked at them, I noticed a little green square in what looked to be the location of these two buildings. Green=Green space. The taller building needs to go. It was damaged by fire and is a hazard. I wish the old theater could be saved.
November 18, 200915 yr Seems like the Studio isn't coming down afterall this year, even though the city has acquired the title. Sounds like there was an issue with the lowest bid, and the city opted not to let them rebid. The other building is still coming down, but in addition, the city is working to acquire the single story building attached to it (River of Life Apostolic Ministries) and will tear them down together. There aren't funds to cover the Studio, so it is on hold until 2010 if and when additional NSP funds are available. I had heard that demo costs were well over $200k.
November 19, 200915 yr I had heard that demo costs were well over $200k. I believe the lowest bid was $340,000. If they intend to demolish the one-story church storefront later anyway, it does make more since to demolish it at the same time as the three-story building above, since it has common wall issues that are driving up the demolition cost. The real advantage to this is the delay in the Studio's demolition.
March 2, 201015 yr Straight edge kids in Middletown have better things to do than drugs! Like deface buildings!
July 25, 201014 yr The National Trust picked up the story on the Studio's demolition: Ohio Theater To Be Demolished By Devin Loftus | Online Only | July 20, 2010 The 1929 Studio Theater, located in Middletown, Ohio, southwest of Dayton, will be demolished. Located between the busy east side of Middletown and the deteriorating historic buildings of its west side, the 1929 Studio Theater was scheduled to be demolished last year, when its neighboring buildings were razed, but the city ran out of funding. The city is now accepting bids for the theater's demolition, which will take place as soon as the city finds the money. ... http://www.preservationnation.org/magazine/2010/todays-news/ohio-theater-to-be-demolished.html
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