Jim Cohen, president of CMC Properties, and Butler County Finance Authority advisor Joshua Smith presented a proposed redevelopment for a four‑acre downtown site that includes the Manchester Inn and Sunshine building and would prioritize mixed‑use housing and first‑floor retail. The company said its plan would “bring 200 new residents with money in their pockets and drop them right in Downtown Middletown,” aiming to catalyze further private investment and small businesses.

City staff and consultants described the RFQ process, community outreach and building assessments that preceded the proposal. Acting Community and Economic Development Director Jacob Schulte said the city ran a public survey and stakeholder workshops; a follow‑up survey on the Manchester/Sunshine buildings drew 572 responses with split views on preservation. Schulte said the city will post RFQ responses, engineering assessments and the slide deck online and host a public town hall on Dec. 2 so residents can comment.

Supporters argued that a market‑rate, mixed‑use project can jump‑start downtown by creating a resident base that attracts restaurants and shops. Joshua Smith of the Butler County Finance Authority told council that, while preservation was strongly considered, multiple developer assessments showed redevelopment of a consolidated site could produce the fastest path to broader downtown reuse and to stabilizing adjacent historic buildings.

Several council members pressed the developer and staff on historic preservation details and immediate building repairs. Councilmember Horn urged the city to address urgent roof and parapet repairs on the First National Bank building, citing a safety risk if masonry fails. Cohen told the council his team plans to salvage and reuse select stone features and historical elements in the new design and to work with the local historical society on markers and archival displays.

Council and staff agreed to hold a town hall on Dec. 2 at 4:00 p.m. to present the materials, take public comment and answer questions. Staff said documents — including the RFQ submission, building assessments and survey results — will be centralized online and will be available to residents ahead of the town hall. The council plans follow‑up straw polls before any development agreement is negotiated.

The town hall logistics were described at the meeting: poster boards and printed images will be available in chambers, citizens may sign comment cards and speakers will have up to four minutes each. The town hall is informational rather than a formal public hearing, and staff said it will be followed by a regular council meeting at 5:30 p.m.