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Residents, preservation groups press Middletown council to save downtown’s historic buildings
Summary
Dozens of residents and local preservation groups urged Middletown City Council to halt demolition plans for several city-owned historic downtown buildings and pursue stabilization and reuse, while council members said they want a firm plan by August.
Scores of Middletown residents and preservation advocates urged the Middletown City Council on June 3 to stop short of demolishing four city-owned, historically designated downtown buildings and instead pursue restoration and reuse.
At least eight callers and representatives of downtown organizations told council members that the Manchester Hotel, the Sunshine Building, the First National Bank building and the Knights of Columbus building are assets that can drive economic development if stabilized and reused. “Demolition is permanent, but history, once honored, can become the foundation of prosperity,” Jamie Steele told the council during the public-comment period.
The plea was repeated by Gabriel Shainline, who said he spoke on behalf of the Historic South Main Association and the…
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