Some cities dream
big, others just leave their dreams in meetings or on paper. The City
of Middletown, Ohio, got past the dream stage long ago.
A $2.1 million major water improvement project will be completed
this spring near Yankee Road and the MADE Industrial Park (Middletown
Area Development Enterprise).
And the city, built around an industrial-based economy, is gearing
up for a downtown renovation project estimated to cost $11.5 million.
The city likely will remove the roof of a downtown mall and restore
the streets, making it much easier for motorists to reach businesses
or get through town.
Additionally, over the next several years, the city will spend
about $20 million on capital infrastructure improvements on either
side of 1-75. On tap are roadway extension and widening projects,
drainage, storm, water and other improvements. There are even plans
for a lake and recreational areas. All of this activity began to
take shape after the city annexed 1,100 acres in 1997.
"What we're really gearing to attract is the corporate office
environment," says Andy Braun, the city's engineer. In addition
to our industrial growth." QCI, which has already provided inspection
services on the water improvement project, will inspect a $1.1 sewer
extension project that will begin 1,000 feet west of 1-75 and continue
to the intersection of Union Road and State Route 122.
The water improvement project will help improve water pressure
for Middletown's water customers and for the City of Monroe. Middletown
officials expect to attract more businesses to the industrial park.
A new 1.5 MM gallon water tower is ready to come on line along with
a new 16-inch water main and a pump station to be finished by June.
The downtown project follows extensive studies on how to make
the best use of a four-block area. Originally the area was enclosed
in the 1970s to guard against the loss of businesses to outlying
malls. The concept never really took off.
According to Braun, "using QCI has been a real advantage for us."
We are able to incorporate the construction inspection costs into
the funding of the various projects rather than using funds from
our operating budget to maintain our own staff.
"Is Middletown's downtown ever going to be a retail center again?
"It's not likely," Braun says. He added that City leaders are encouraged
by other construction near the downtown mall, including a new bank
building and a new 12 District Court of Appeals office.
