Middletown Forum : Economic Development http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ This is an XML content feed of; Middletown Forum : Economic Development : Last 10 Posts Mon, 05 Oct 2026 20:19:57 +0000 Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:43:07 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.12 30 www.middletownusa.com/forum/RSS_topic_feed.asp?FID=1 Middletown Forum http://middletownusa.com/images/blog-logo.jpg http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/ Economic Development : Cincinnati State leaving downtown http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7008&PID=51441&title=cincinnati-state-leaving-downtown#51441 Author: middletownscouter
Subject: Cincinnati State leaving downtown
Posted: Jun 05 2023 at 1:43pm

This has been reported on since back in November, but didn't see if mentioned on these forums yet.  Looks like a downtown property is going to be vacant soon.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/cincinnati-state-leaving-downtown-middletown-141400534.html
Quote Cincinnati State leaving downtown Middletown for Miami University regional campus
Michael D. Clark, Journal-News, Hamilton, Ohio
Fri, June 2, 2023 at 10:14 AM EDT·4 min read

Jun. 2—MIDDLETOWN -The next step in the growing partnership between Miami University and Cincinnati State in Middletown begins Monday as the community college moves from its decade-long home in the heart of this city.

The Hamilton County-based community college is moving its Butler County branch to Miami's Middletown campus.

It's a move anticipated since November, when the Journal-News first reported Miami and Cincinnati State officials were embarking on a historic cooperation, which in August will start to see some of more than 400 local community college students begin learning on Miami regional campus or via online courses.

As part of the move Cincinnati State will close its location at 1 N. Main St. where for the last 10 years the school had leased four floors of the former Cincinnati Gas & Electric building as its first branch campus in Butler County.

School employees will begin moving their offices and equipment from Middletown's second-tallest building to the regional campus' Johnston Hall and are expected to be done by the end of June.

The historic partnership between the Hamilton County-based Cincinnati State and Miami is advantageous for both, said school officials.

"We truly appreciate the partnerships we have developed with the City of Middletown, Butler County, and with our education partners," said Monica Posey, president of Cincinnati State. "We are excited about our new location and the innovative approach to serving students that it will make possible."

At Miami Middletown, Cincinnati State is leasing about 1,500-square feet for offices, but will have shared access to classrooms as needed, and students will have full use of the library, cafeteria, recreation center and other amenities on the campus that will enhance student experience.

Ande Durojaiye, vice president and dean for the Miami regional campuses, stood Thursday next to some of the new signage outside of Johnston Hall featuring both Cincinnati State and Miami's names and said both of the newly joined educational institutions will gain from their first partnership, but more importantly so will students.

"Miami is committed to increasing access to higher education for all individuals across the region. And we do that by partnering with institutions like Cincinnati State and bringing their students on to our campus, exposing them to our programs," said Durojaiye.

"Ideally this partnership should be sent up in a way that students who are at Cincinnati State should have a seamless path to Miami and a Miami degree."

School officials said the merger will mean tuition savings for the Cincinnati State students, which numbered more than 2,000 last school year, with most living in Butler County.

Robbin Hoopes, provost of Cincinnati State, echoed the enthusiasm for expanding college options for local students.

"The partnership with Miami Middletown means they have access to a lot of things here that we did not have at the Middletown campus, recreational facilities, cafeteria, library and things like that," said Hoopes.

And, he said, "it allows for educational pathways. Before (students) completing a one year or two-year college credential with us, if they were going to go on for a bacchelurate degree at Miami regional, they had to transfer to a completely different campus."

"Now they get to do that right here, on site to a place they are familiar with and in addition they can begin that second step, while they are still a student with us ... and it shortens their time to (earning) a degree," said Hoopes.

The departure of a major downtown employer will hurt, at least a temporarily, the central business economy, said Jeff Payne, executive director of Downtown Middletown Inc.

"But we don't want to see this in a negative light and we'd like to see re-occupancy of that space," said Payne of the 79,000 square feet used by Cincinnati State.

"And we will work with the city to look for positive re-use for it. But obviously with (school) staff moving out, that is fewer folks to take part in eating at our restaurants and things like that."

"But we also see this as a new opportunity for a new tenant to come in and be part of our downtown. It's a great space and nice strategic location with good access," said Payne.

Students interested in enrolling in Cincinnati State's new location in Middletown may call 513-217-3700 or go online at cincinnatistate.edu/admissions.
]]> Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:43:07 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7008&PID=51441&title=cincinnati-state-leaving-downtown#51441 Economic Development : Back With the Old Facades Thing Again http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6995&PID=51373&title=back-with-the-old-facades-thing-again#51373 Author: buddhalite
Subject: Back With the Old Facades Thing Again
Posted: Oct 26 2020 at 3:35pm

Because if they could afford it - everything east of downtown would be cut off and refused city services and abandoned...

...but they CAN'T!

They simply cannot afford it.  The revenues generated for the city by the downtown area is so miniscule that they couldn't keep the water running, let alone the electricity.

The biases shown by our council are nothing new, and you know that as well as I do.  

Remember when Ms. Vitori (or Kimener - pay attention and you'll know why she uses the other name) who said on her campaign website that the east end was a nice 'amenity'?  To her - the east end is just a necessary evil that she can use for her own pet project of protecting her worthless investment.

And that's really the rub here - these people make horrible investments in downtown and then panic.  They can't afford to lose their fortunes - but within months they find themselves cash poor and about to close up shop.  Then they run screaming to the money families in our city to apply pressure to council or the new vogue is to just run for council yourself so you can pass anything you need to protect your insane investment in buildings, land and more that are worthless, decrepit and - get this - no serious developer would even consider putting their hard earned money behind.

When a real developer goes into downtown and brings real businesses who bring real jobs to the table (not a bunch of part-time service jobs) then, only then, should there be continued investment in any part of downtown.

What gets me is that if you're starting a business and you need a loan to get the façade of your location fixed - you're doing it wrong.  Ain't it funny how the east end can bring in business (when council and the city government get out of their way) and they can do it without funny money from DMI and all those similar organizations?

The market should determine winners and losers - not the Middletown City Council.
]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2020 15:35:39 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6995&PID=51373&title=back-with-the-old-facades-thing-again#51373 Economic Development : Back With the Old Facades Thing Again http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6995&PID=51372&title=back-with-the-old-facades-thing-again#51372 Author: VietVet
Subject: Back With the Old Facades Thing Again
Posted: Oct 26 2020 at 9:37am

Journal story pertaining to downtown development and building facades.....again.

Seems city council is right in step with continuing to offer only downtown business owners help in developing their businesses while the businesses in all other areas of town are not offered help.

Councilpersons Nenni and Vitori should opt out of participation in this approval as they would have a conflict of interest as they are downtown business owners as well and this offer does pertain to downtown business help. This offer supports a vested interest for them as it would improve the area in which their businesses are located.

Why is it that facade loans only apply to downtown businesses and leave all other businesses located outside the downtown area to fend for themselves? This is discrimination in essence and should not be allowed to happen IMO.

As usual, Middletown residents see a plot to administer help to selected entities in the downtown rather than to help ALL business areas of the city equally. Why does this discriminatory practice continue?]]> Mon, 26 Oct 2020 09:37:59 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6995&PID=51372&title=back-with-the-old-facades-thing-again#51372 Economic Development : It Appears Lincoln School Is Next http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51338&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51338 Author: VietVet
Subject: It Appears Lincoln School Is Next
Posted: Apr 17 2020 at 8:59pm

Is the city going to demolish Lincoln School as planned or has this been shelved? What are we waiting for? ]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2020 20:59:15 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51338&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51338 Economic Development : It Appears Lincoln School Is Next http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51188&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51188 Author: MattR
Subject: It Appears Lincoln School Is Next
Posted: Jun 12 2019 at 1:43pm

Yet the library is the lynchpin of the city's redevelopment plan for the newly created Oakland historic neighborhood.]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2019 13:43:52 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51188&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51188 Economic Development : It Appears Lincoln School Is Next http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51187&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51187 Author: Bill
Subject: It Appears Lincoln School Is Next
Posted: Jun 12 2019 at 12:55pm

If there was any realistic re-use possibility for Lincoln don't you think it would have happened in the last 10 years? Heck, look at the old library and how that has not been redeveloped in almost 40 years. At some point these eyesores need to go.]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2019 12:55:37 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51187&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51187 Economic Development : It Appears Lincoln School Is Next http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51186&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51186 Author: MattR
Subject: It Appears Lincoln School Is Next
Posted: Jun 12 2019 at 10:05am

In the form of city government we use, the system breaks down when the council becomes the manager's lap dog. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2019 10:05:42 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51186&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51186 Economic Development : It Appears Lincoln School Is Next http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51185&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51185 Author: buddhalite
Subject: It Appears Lincoln School Is Next
Posted: Jun 12 2019 at 9:26am

I probably sound like a broken record on this - but the problem is I-75 and no other viable means of mass access to that side of town.  No one (but the artsy fartsy types) want to be down there - and industry (needing roads for transport) doesn't even want to be down there.

I'm not really sure what else you can do with these buildings.  Just look at I-75 in Monroe and look at any part of Middletown.  3 miles and a highway make one heck of a difference.

Even Hamilton has the advantage because of 129.  When they built that I was upset at wasting taxpayer dollars - now its one of the single most traveled parcels of road in the state. Spooky Nook will build there - because YOU CAN GET THERE!

No one wants to go where you can't get.  Personally - In the last month - I've been west of Breiel Blvd. once - and only one-tenth of a mile to my dry cleaners.  And I live here.
]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:26:51 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51185&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51185 Economic Development : It Appears Lincoln School Is Next http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51184&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51184 Author: VietVet
Subject: It Appears Lincoln School Is Next
Posted: Jun 12 2019 at 9:15am

Journal story....

Area cities demolishing multiple old industrial buildings for safety, possible redevelopment


In March, Middletown officials said they are planning to demolish the former Lincoln School, 2402 Central Ave. later this year. The city acquired the building through the county land bank in July 2018 after the state was unable to sell it for back taxes.

In another tax forfeiture case, the former Middletown Paperboard plant off Ohio 4/South Verity Parkway, is heading to a sheriff’s sale sometime after Aug. 1, according to Butler County Treasurer Nancy Nix. The previous owner, B.P. Logan, LLC, owed $259,565 in delinquent real estate taxes.On April 16, Butler County Common Pleas Judge Greg Howard issued a default judgment on a foreclosure request. The court issued an order of sale to sell the property, which consists of 61 parcels of various sizes, for no less than $261.550.The former paper factory was the site of a February 2018 fire that was ruled as an arson.“Long term, Lincoln School and the Paperboard building represent two of the last large demolitions remaining in the city,” said City Manager Doug Adkins. “The Paperboard building has been difficult to secure after the fire and it does not represent well the entrance to the city on (Ohio) Route 4.”He said, as with all public things, finding the dollars for demolition will take time and planning. Adkins said there are multiple structures on those parcels, and there may be remediation required after demolition is completed.Adkins said these demolition projects are necessary to prepare these open sites for future development is part of the proposed housing plan and city master plan. He also said projects such as the paperboard site could require a five-to-10 year completion time frame due to the high costs of demolition and remediation.The Paperboard site is also adjacent to the Oakland neighborhood, which Middletown is targeting for redevelopment. Also adjacent to the neighborhood is the former Vail Middle School site that has been cleared for future development by the Middletown City School District.

Jennifer Ekey, Middletown economic development director, said the Paperboard site will be listed in the city’s new master plan as a special interest area due to its proximity to the Oakland Neighborhood and because it’s a likely brownfield site.

“The Paperboard site is a separate project from the Oakland Neighborhood project, but it’s related in the idea that it’s adjacent to that development,” she said. “We want to make sure that the redevelopment of that property is sensitive to the neighborhood.”

Now, here is where Hamilton is much different than Middletown when deciding to demolition or salvaging old buildings.....

In Hamilton, there are 100 vacant commercial and industrial structures, according to Tom Vanderhorst, executive director of external services.Vanderhorst said “we need to be careful as a community on how we address these buildings, considering many of them are historic and contribute significantly to Hamilton’s identity. While some may be demolished over time, others could turn into adaptive reuse projects that unlock their potential.”He noted projects such as the Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill, the Mercantile Lofts, and the Robinson-Schwenn Building as examples of reuse and redevelopment successes.Vanderhorst said that “many developers look at vacant buildings as an opportunity for redevelopment rather than as something that needs demolished, so getting these buildings into the right hands is an important goal. We expect our journey in reducing the number of vacant structures will be a combined improve/remove strategy. Saving significant historic structures will be our first priority where reuse and redevelopment is feasible.”

Apparently, Hamilton looks for new uses for buildings using demolition as a last resort and can find actual developers who are able to obtain financing to execute their development plans while Middletown doesn't have the capability of formulating ideas nor attracting actual buyers who have money to rehab buildings. Don't read where Hamilton is giving away buildings for a dollar and then taking them back as Middletown has repeatedly done. Also don't know when Hamilton has given away tax dollars to developers just to see the project fall flat from the outset. (Rose Furniture building)(where did OUR $350,000 go anyway?)

Before they do to Lincoln school what they did to Roosevelt (which had the potential to be a senior apartment complex), and leave yet another open green space that will never be developed, why not network with senior living facility companies and offer them the building to re-purpose into a senior living facility? We do have an aging population who needs care and housing, right? How about apartments for low income candidates that we seem to like to attract to this city before leveling yet another building in this desolate city? Again, this city administration is dam good at demolishing everything in sight but fails miserably in replacing the demolished sites with new development. ]]> Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:15:40 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6958&PID=51184&title=it-appears-lincoln-school-is-next#51184 Economic Development : Downtown Development-The Middletonian http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6950&PID=51127&title=downtown-developmentthe-middletonian#51127 Author: VietVet
Subject: Downtown Development-The Middletonian
Posted: Apr 11 2019 at 5:35pm

Got a nice, fancy, colorful magazine in the mail today. Looked through it and noticed that the theme was centered on the downtown businesses and activity with a few "non-downtown" entities sprinkled in. Had a nice write-up on Jalin Marshall and his quest to attract the NFL's attention after being released by the New York Jets. The demise of the AAF didn't help his cause either.

The magazine had a few nice black and white photos of 1920's Middletown as well.

The magazine appears to be supported by business donations from various sources around town and comes via a local printing shop with local writers for the articles. This is the "Spring 2019" edition with more editions to come apparently. I assume no city donated taxpayer money was used in this endeavor.

This idea may have some merit in advertising the downtown area but I'm wondering how many people go to the mailbox, bring the contents back in the house and actually read the magazine for content versus the number of people who will discard the effort and treat it like junk mail. This seems to mirror the Community Foundation mail effort but doesn't ask for the donation.

I applaud the downtown supporters for attempting new, innovative ways to draw attention to the downtown. I just think it is too premature to initiate something like this until they have more to offer those who don't hold the arts and the culture thing in such high regard. Perhaps a mixture of business choices that would be more attractive to the majority of those living here instead of the tunnel vision insistence of offering only arts might help the effort. This may help in filling a major number of vacant storefronts as well. Currently, there is just not enough offered downtown, no matter what manner of advertising, and despite the fancy home magazine, to interest the average Middletown resident to attend any downtown function. The Bash seems to be the most attended event so far and it doesn't necessarily relate to upscale culture and the arts but rather is connected to what Middletown people are really all about.....blue collar working class.

The action is out by I-75 and has been for decades now. It is very difficult, as we are seeing, to attract people seven miles to the west in their downtown area. The downtown location worked before the east end growth starting back in the late 50's (1958) with Middletown Shopping Center as the first entry. That is when the downtown started to die. The Towne Mall added to the downtown misery in the 70's. It will be hard to revive an area of town that died decades ago. I applaud the effort by the new, younger business people, but the efforts for over a decade have not necessarily proven to be eye-opening so far. The effort has yielded spotty success with many business starts and endings and still, many, never filled vacancies to see as one drives Central Avenue. IMO, the downtown has never left the life support machine and totally stood on it's own.

]]> Thu, 11 Apr 2019 17:35:03 +0000 http://www.middletownusa.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6950&PID=51127&title=downtown-developmentthe-middletonian#51127