MASTER PLAN

Middletown announces plans for a new housing development  BY REID MAUS

■ 2022 WAS A marquee year for Middletown. Many areas in southwest Ohio have been progressing forward, but few have been propelled in recent years as much as Middletown. The next calendar year is shaping up to be no different.

There are several items in the 2023 city plans that are of particular note. Reinvestments into the community and new developments aim to improve the area, and should have the citizens excited.

The former Paperboard site in town, which suffered major damages back at the start of 2020 due to a fire, is near the top of the list of projects the city aims to tackle in the new year. Since the fire damaged most of the building, the city has been looking for funding to remediate the site and prepare it for redevelopment. Butler County will be providing the site with funding through the ARPA program.

The other piece of the reinvestment into the community center expansion. Three different organizations pledged millions of dollars to expand the Robert “Sonny” Hill Community Center. The center, which was built in 1917, received money from the Butler County Board of Commissioners, the City of Middletown and Middletown City Schools.

Included in the renovations are the following; a preschool, additional offices, adult training rooms, Student Leadership Program rooms, a gymnasium, as well as community health and wellness areas.

Middletown is committed to reinvesting in itself, and building pride within its community along the way. It is also continuing the trend of building a stock of homes within the town.

Brandon Homes will be developing 20 unattached single-family homes within the limits of the former Roosevelt School Property. Brandon Homes is a custom home building company based in Middletown.

Near I-75 and Atrium hospital an Indiana developer plans to invest 45 million dollars and create 319 luxury apartments. These units will provide more housing options for an ever growing city. Kendall Property group has dubbed the development “Innovation Way” Apartments.

The property will feature one, two and three bedroom units and will highlight a pool, dog park, workout facility and clubhouse. It’ll be the first development of this size in Middletown in years.

Also across the street from Atrium Medical Center will be another upscale apartment complex. The development will happen on a piece of property which has been for sale since 1979 and will be called the Atticus Apartments.

There will be 10 buildings built, each with 24 units. Totally 240 more options for Middletown’s east end. The community will be gated and, like the Innovation Way development, will feature one, two and three bedroom apartments. As well as amenities, like a pool, clubhouse, dog park and walking trails. Those properties aim to be completed in 2023.

New homes and reinvestments aren’t the only things Middletonians have to be excited about. Several new dining and entertainment spots are also on the way including a new Arby’s.

Middletown is committed to reinvesting in itself, and building pride within its community along the way. It is also continuing the trend of building a stock of homes within the town.

Coming in the first quarter of 2023 at the former Murphy’s Landing spot in Downtown will be Primo Steakhouse. Primo is a subsidiary of Prime Steakhouse in Cincinnati. This gives Middletown a needed upscale dining experience from a steakhouse with an outstanding reputation.

MK Airsoft Entertainment opened in 2022 on Roosevelt Boulevard, giving the town another source of entertainment.

More projects are in the pipeline and will be announced in the future. Proving that Middletown is growing at a faster rate than most cities in southern Ohio.