Hope For Vacant Buildings

Journal story....

Hamilton, Middletown working to redevelop empty buildings

HAMILTON —
Officials in Hamilton and Middletown are focusing on strategies — including tax incentives — to make sure empty downtown buildings become economic drivers and not decaying blights that attract vandals

Middletown has seen more businesses commit to downtown space as it transforms into an arts and education hub.

The opening of Cincinnati State Middletown in the former CG&E; building on Central Avenue was a spark for several new businesses. The city has struggled in recent years, but economic development behind BeauVerre at the Square, Pendleton Art Center and Cincinnati State has prompted businesses, including three new restaurants, to open by the end of the year.

Linda Moorman, who along with her husband, Jay, owns BeauVerre Riordan Stained Glass Studio, said instead of seeing vacant buildings as eyesores, she envisions them as “potential for growth and it’s happening right here.”

The Pendleton Art Center moved into the vacant property at the corner of Central Avenue and Broad Street, and since the Manchester Inn is closed, the art center has hosted numerous community events.

The Sorg Opera House was recently purchased by a group of seven investors who hope to revitalize the building and bring back plays, concerts and other productions to the opera house that has been vacant since December 2011, according to Chuck Miller, Sorg Opera Revitalization Group executive director.

Moorman predicts that in a few years, downtown will be “totally different than the past.” She said it will be more of a destination for diners and shoppers.

“There is a lot of opportunity here,” she said. “Word is getting out that Middletown is the place to be.”



Mike P......Spider.....409.....others who have been here since the 70's and before... how many times have you heard of a "plan" for re-vitalizing the downtown area? Started in the late 60's/70's with the closing (barricade across the street) of Central Ave. about where the Central Store (Richie's Pawn Shop to the newer folks)is and ended with a barricade at N. Main St. (I think) Foot traffic only in this area. Then the City Centre Mall was built (and torn down). Now, we have the arts and education theme attempt. So far, with the initial anemic numbers produced by CS, and the slow development in the attraction of new business because of CS, the on again/off again/ever-changing activity at the PAC, does anyone share the Moorman's (and others) enthusiasm that this will actually grow into anything in the near future? Isn't this whole thing the wrong development theme for the wrong type of town? I don't understand how the arts can possibly attract a majority interest in this town to make it a viable player to be a catalyst for citizen involvement. 5-10% of the population (most from out of town) at best. Why the reluctance to build a theme based on attracting a majority of 50-60% or more? If Moorman wants a destination for diners and shoppers, they won't get the clientele with coffee shops and artzy nic-knack shops as the selling point. People in this town don't have the disposable income for specialty coffees and sandwiches nor the interest in that type of climate. This is a Mickie D's/drive- thru/dollar menu type of town, not a wine tasting/cheese knibbling, Picasso admiring, specialty coffee at 5 bucks a cup type of town. JMO

Oh yeah.....and what about those city owned bank buildings that happen to be vacant and in dire need of some maintenance that have no takers? The city seems to own alot of properties while claiming "NOT TO BE IN THE BUSINESS OF REAL ESTATE". How can this be?

Also, the City Hall planners foisted a deluge of Section 8 rentals on nearby moderate-income neighborhoods in Wards 2 and partially in Ward 1 over the past 13+ years.  The furtherance of the almighty HUD cash cow resulted in a precipitous decline in formerly decent and modest cost home ownership opportunities in these areas.  Those bureaucrats responsible never seem to be held responsible.  Why is this?

THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN OWNS 1200 THAT'S RIGHT I SAID 1200 PROPERTIES SOME ARE JUST PARKING LOTS BUT MANY ARE NOT!!!!

over the hill wrote: MS JUDY WAS RESENTLY OVER HEARD AT ONE OF BASHES SAYING THIS WASN'T HER KIND OF PEOPLE SHE WAS ONLY THERE TO LISTEN TO SAM'S SON PLAY IN ONE OF THE BANDS THEN SHE WAS OUT OF THERE

Was she leaving to go be with her kind of people?  If so, I wonder where the coven was meeting?  

I say tear down some of those buildings and put in a race track. At least we will get some of the hot rodders off the road I don't know what I hear more at night, the Trains, or the hot rodders racing their engines all over town. Besides I think a race track will draw more people downtown than the arts anyday.

"Denise Hamet, economic development director for the city of Middletown, said a detailed redevelopment plan for the downtown area will be released in the first quarter of 2012."