Residents and preservation groups press council on downtown buildings; council signals expedited review and new RFQ

Speakers at Middletowns June 17 public comment period urged City Council to preserve historic downtown properties and to take visible steps to address vacant buildings and public-safety concerns downtown.

Gabe Schoenlein, speaking for the South Main and Highlands Historic Association, the Middletown Historical Society and a coalition called Save Downtown Middletown, said council members had signaled openness to demolishing the Manchester, Sunshine, First National Bank and Knights of Columbus buildings and asked council to provide the public with the specific criteria they would use if they decide to vote for demolition in August. "If city council members believe that any of these buildings are structurally unstable, they should present proof to the public before voting on demolition," Schoenlein said. He asked members to declare decisional criteria or state if they had already made up their minds.

Multiple downtown stakeholders backed preservation: Mika Glazer Jones, owner of the Windermere Event Venue, and Mary Johnson, chair of Downtown Middletown Inc. (DMI), described past private investment and argued that enforcement of existing vacant-property legislation would encourage rehabilitation. Glazer Jones said several long-vacant buildings have sat empty for a decade and that stronger enforcement could spark reinvestment; Johnson highlighted upcoming downtown events and said preservation ties to economic activity.

At the same public comment block, Heather Gibson, owner of Triple Moon Coffee, linked business safety concerns to broader downtown conditions, asking council for immediate shelter options, mental-health crisis teams, and clearer enforcement of ordinances to protect customers and employees. "Homelessness is a complex human issue," Gibson said. "It deserves compassion, but what it doesn't deserve and what our citizens shouldn't have to live with is fear, danger, and inaction."

Council members and staff described parallel actions. Community and Economic Development Director Lisha Moreland reported that staff had conducted developer walk-throughs of downtown properties on June 17 with Joshua Smith of the Butler County Finance Authority and other potential developers, and that a community downtown-refresh working group is drafting an RFQ. Moreland said staff also is revising the citys vacant-property legislation to address enforcement barriers and that the draft RFQ was targeted for release in early July.

Council members said they had not yet made final decisions on demolition. Councilman West and Councilman Lolli described additional developer tours and said external partners, including the Butler County Finance Authority and the Middletown Port Authority, had been engaged. Councilwoman Carter said she personally favors demolition of the Manchester building, citing long-term vacancy, while other council members emphasized a need for clear plans before demolition.

What happened: Preservation advocates asked council for evidence and transparent decision criteria ahead of a possible August vote; council and staff said they are pursuing developer assessments, revising vacant-property enforcement language, and preparing a refreshed RFQ. No demolition decision was taken at the June 17 meeting.

Why it matters: The four buildings named are prominent downtown properties; their disposition will affect grant eligibility, property tax outcomes and the character and economic trajectory of downtown Middletown. Public commenters and business owners warned that uncertainty, vacant storefronts and safety concerns are already affecting downtown foot traffic and businesses.

Whats next: City staff said the downtown working group will meet again June 26 to finalize RFQ language; city staff expect to release the RFQ in early July. Council indicated an intention to review developer feedback during the summer before any formal August action.