Dear Middletown,
Many of you may not be aware that the Town Administrator and Town Council are currently negotiating the future of the Middletown Town Center on West Main Road behind closed doors, with a private developer. Not in public, but behind closed doors.
At a recent Town Affordable Housing Committee meeting on June 6, 2024, I asked the Town Administrator and Town Council President the status of those negotiations, and if they included affordable housing. We were told, “they cannot discuss those negotiations in public, nor can we discuss the percentage of affordable housing included.” They would not even discuss the number of residential units included in current plans and negotiations.
Think about that for a second. We have Town land, that your taxes paid for, for arguably the largest development this Town has seen in forty plus years, and the negotiations are happening behind closed doors? Really? With a developer with close ties to current Town Administration and Town Council members, whose major goal with the project is to add another hotel to their portfolio.
I recently was appointed to the Middletown Affordable Housing Committee where I am happy to serve with four other dedicated community members. I asked to join this committee because I saw the Town racing to add as many affordable housing units in this Town, just to make the State happy. Racing, without care for current residents, the neighbors of proposed developments, and in some cases, ignoring the protective zoning ordinances that the rest of us have to comply with.
I got involved, because I see a real need to make Middletown more affordable, especially for our Seniors, but not at the expense of the hard working, current residents of our Town. I am happy to report that my fellow committee members and I all unanimously voted on June 6, 2024 for the following: “The Affordable Housing Committee formally recommends to the Town Council that 25% of Middletown Town Center development on West Main Rd must be reserved for affordable housing.”
This is where I humbly ask for your help. Please reach out to the Town Administrator and the Town Council, and let them know that The Town Center development needs to include public input, and must include 25% affordable housing. We cannot pass on this opportunity to make Middletown more affordable. It is OUR Town Center.
Charlie Roberts, Middletown
