Neither does the city’s own Historic Commission, though the city’s community revitalization department has filed an appeal and it will be re-heard at the May 30 commission meeting. The commission’s nine-member board voted to deny the application at the May 16 meeting.
Well this same Historic Commission had nothing to say when Ms Judy was going to demo the Vault at the Middletown Cemetery however now that it involves a property on Main Street this building must be saved...

A small contingent of property owners and supporters of the downtown attended City Council’s Tuesday meeting asking the city-owned building at 36 S. Main St. not be razed.

“A complete demolition would create a dead space, a black hole, a front tooth missing in the smile of that block,” said Lewitt, who represents the ownership of the adjacent U.S. Hotel at 34 S. Main St. “It will be another lot for the city to mow, maintain and to sit on for who knows how long. Instead, why not save the facade?”
But ,but, but City Hall can always use another parking lot. City Hall does not care what the entire block looks like, just take a look at the other blocks of THEIR DOWNTOWN.

Doug Adkins, Middletown’s Community Revitalization director, filed the appeal. He could not be reached for comment, but according to an three-page appeal, with 14 pages of support from two experts, indicates repairing the building, or even giving it away, is not justifiable.
Well Mr Adkins it sure was not a problem for City Hall to give away all the other buildings. Has Art Central started restoring their building yet since it was not up to code at the time of transfer?

“If the building was donated by the city to a new owner, I respectfully submit that there is no possible use nor could the building be adapted for any other potential use that could justify a reasonable rate of return … ,” Adkins wrote.
Rate of Return?   City Hall hasn't even broke even on the other buildings that they purchased in THEIR DOWNTOWN.

The building, appraised for $40,360 (which does not include the $34,570 value of the land), would cost $47,600 to repair the building according to an August 2011 estimate, but did not include roof or structural repairs. Adkins wrote that the city received an estimate that would cost the city $400,000 to make the necessary repairs and remove any hazardous materials from the building built in the early 1900s.
And lookie here, now even the downtown lots has value. Just a few months ago we were told that these buildings had very little value.

According to the letter sent to the city’s building department from city’s planning director, Marty Kohler, who also serves as the historic preservation administrator, the commission denied the application for demolition for five reasons, some of which were similar to Lewitt’s points:

• the facade has “significant architectural value” and adds to the value of the row of buildings along the block;
• the demolition is based on the poor condition of the property “which is the result of the willful neglect of the property by the city of Middletown;
• significant evidence on attempts to preserve the property was not presented by the city;
• the worst damage is in the rear and demolition of that part should be explored while retaining the Main St. facade;
• the building “could be a valuable asset” for the downtown as it continues revitalization.
   

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN —