Middletown launches Brownfield Opportunity Area study for Community Campus

Kate Stryker, the consultant leading the project for Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, opened a public kickoff meeting in Downtown Middletown to begin planning a Brownfield Opportunity Area (BOA) study for the Middletown Community Campus, the former Middletown Psychiatric Center.

The study is funded through a Department of State BOA grant and will use a three-phase planning process intended to produce a community-driven vision, site-specific concept plans and a draft BOA nomination to submit to the state for designation. "My name is Kate Stryker. I am the consultant that is project managing this project that you're here to learn about today," Stryker told attendees.

Mayor Justeufano welcomed attendees and described the campus as one of the city's final large developable parcels. "This is the last large piece of developable property within the city," the mayor said, noting the city's population and the campus's role in local redevelopment efforts. The city has acquired roughly 34 acres from New York State for $1, including buildings such as the power plant and Tuckerman Hall, which the mayor said are being considered for alternate uses and, in some cases, transfer to Fei Tian College.

Stryker outlined the project team and steering committee and explained BOA program basics and benefits. She said the BOA planning stage focuses on developing a community vision, selecting candidate sites for redevelopment, and identifying policy, investment and implementation strategies.…