Middletown approves sale agreement for Tuckerman Hall to Feitian College with development milestones

MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Common Council and Board of Estimate voted to approve a contract to sell 122 Dorothea Dix, known as Tuckerman Hall, to Feitian College under an agreement that ties the transfer price to development milestones.

Mayor said the property — a 279,000-square-foot former psychiatric campus building the city acquired from New York State — has been vacant and deteriorating and that the proposed sale would require Feitian College to meet phased development goals. "This is not the Kleiner Building. This is only Tuckerman Hall," the Mayor said, introducing the proposal and describing the city's aim to return the building to active use.

Under the terms described at the meeting, if the buyer does not meet development goals the transfer price would be $150,001; if the buyer meets the stated development targets, the transfer would be $4. The Mayor said the buyer anticipates investments "about 15 to $20,000,000," a figure he described as on the low side for the work required. The sale agreement includes penalties if the milestones are not met.

Maria Bruni of the city's economic development office outlined a tentative, phased renovation plan the buyer presented. "The tentative phases is, as soon as, the building is in their hands to go for planning board approval for college and education use, then obtain a building permit. Phase 1... would be reception, offices, instruction rooms, dining, conference rooms, and office," Bruni said, and she said the full program is expected to roll out over roughly six to seven years, depending on construction pace.

Council members discussed the city's previous use of similar development-goal sales and noted that Feitian College (referred to at the meeting as soon to be renamed Northern College) has invested in other buildings on the former Middletown psychiatric campus. The Mayor said the college's prior investment on the campus exceeds $20,000,000 and that the institution projects enrollment growth to about 2,000 students within five years; council members framed the sale as a tool to reduce blight and stimulate economic activity in the surrounding neighborhood.

The council moved the agreement for consideration and, after discussion, approved the contract. The motion to approve was seconded by Council Member Massey; the council recorded a voice vote with all in favor.

The sale and redevelopment will next be considered by the common council in the coming weeks, the Mayor said. The council's approval at this meeting authorized the city to move forward with the contract and the development-goal framework described at the meeting.