Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Preservation Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Historic commission presses city for plan on deteriorating downtown historic properties, requests update on Rose Furniture
Summary
Commissioners urged a city-funded preservation program and asked staff for an update on the Rose Furniture building by April 1, 2027, citing recurring failures of code enforcement and the limits of fines and nuisance actions to restore deteriorated historic properties.
Members of the Middletown City Historic Commission spent a substantial portion of their May 21 meeting discussing long-running deterioration at several downtown historic properties and the limits of current enforcement tools.
Commissioners raised the Rose Furniture building on South Main, the Carnegie Library and the US Hotel among the properties of concern, saying repeated violations, shifting ownership and expired approvals have left historically important buildings exposed to decay. One commissioner urged the commission to "look into" where those properties stand with code enforcement and to push staff and council for action.
City staff and counsel responded that legal remedies — notices of violation, nuisance actions, fines and liens — are available but often ineffective without funding and a political commitment from City Council. "What you need for the city to solve the problem is you need money," John Roach, counsel for the city, said, adding that even successful court actions can leave the city holding a property it must then invest in to make safe or marketable.
Planning/urban development staff (referred to as Tom in the meeting) said an overlay or preservation program with dedicated oversight and staffing is under early consideration for the 2027 budget. Tom said staff would involve the commission as plans mature and recommended the commission prepare a tangible recommendation for City Council.
A commissioner moved to request a progress report on the Rose Furniture building; commissioners discussed what the report should include (special-project updates versus a tailored action plan). Staff said annual reports are standard but pledged to provide updates on special projects and to work toward a report in early 2027, with commissioners suggesting a target of April 1, 2027 for a Rose Building progress update.
Outcome: staff agreed to report under old/new business at a future meeting and to provide updates about the properties and any special projects; commissioners agreed to ask City Council for policy and funding direction once staff can scope a program.
