- Do you support preserving the Manchester and Sonshine buildings?
- Do you support demolishing the Manchester and Sonshine buildings?
- What would you like to see developed on the site if the buildings are demolished or repurposed?
The survey will close at 5 p.m. Aug. 29.
In a statement, the city said: “The city of Middletown is excited to invite our residents to share their thoughts and visions for the historic Manchester Inn and Sonshine buildings. These beloved landmarks hold deep meaning in our community, and as we look ahead to their future, your voice matters. We’re energized by the growing engagement and look forward to seeing the ideas and possibilities that emerge as we shape the next chapter together.”
At a July 15 council meeting, Councilman Paul Horn requested the survey.
“It’s not a deciding factor, it’s just more data to...help everyone involved to see what our citizens are saying,” Horn said. “I’m getting mixed reviews. When I talk to people from the Historical Society, they want to save it. When I talk to people who are younger, from last generation or people who have never been in the Manchester, they’re saying they would prefer demolition and redevelopment. So, I’m confused.”
In July, city council decided to delay its decision on the fate of the downtown buildings until October.
Previously, council had self-imposed an August deadline for a decision — whether demolition or redevelopment — on the Manchester Inn, Sonshine building, First National Bank building and the former Knights of Columbus building.
“If the citizens want that August date to be pushed back, then I’m fine with that if that’s what the citizens want,” Councilman Paul Lolli said in the July 1 council meeting.
After hearing from community members and “Save Downtown Middletown,” a local group formed to advocate for saving the downtown buildings, a new request-for-qualifications, or RFQ, is being drafted for developers.
Gabe Schoenlein, who is the founder and director of Save Downtown Middletown, said he wasn’t sure what “motivated” the city to release the public survey.
“It is possible that certain city staff or city council members want to more fully examine the case for demolition,” Schoenlein said. “I think that’s fine, we should be equipped with the greatest amount of information possible while making such enormous decisions.”
Despite the new survey and recent resignations from community and economic development directors, Schoenlein said his optimism on the future of the buildings has never been higher.
The city’s partnership with Joshua Smith, CEO and president of the Butler County Finance Authority, on the revitalization of downtown buildings, is contributing to Schoenlein’s optimism.
“We are extremely lucky to have Josh’s interested,” he said. “In my opinion, city council should allow Josh to take the reins from here, trust whatever he says and do whatever he asks.”
In 2022, Middletown Historical Society did a 464-person survey in which a majority of Middletonians (425 or 92%) expressed support for saving the Manchester Inn. The survey did not mention the Sonshine building or other downtown historic buildings.
Credit: Nick Graham
Credit: Nick Graham
Sam Ashworth, a long-time trustee of Middletown Historical Society, said when this survey was done, the buildings were in “better” shape.
“There’s no comparison to the Manchester when we did the survey and the Manchester now,” Ashworth said.
Most of the serious damage to the building has been done in the last three years, according to Ashworth.
“It’s just through neglect,” Ashworth said, though he added he hasn’t been in the Manchester Inn recently.
He doesn’t have a “gauge” for how this new survey will turn out.
“We’re trying to point out that not just the Manchester, historic structures in Middletown that are worth saving need to be maintained,” he said. “I find it ironic that...the vast majority of historic structures, homes and buildings that are privately owned are maintained. They put their own money in or they’re able to get grants or whatever to maintain these buildings because they see the value of them. And then ironically, the city has not had that same viewpoint.”
Ashworth said the character and heritage of historic buildings make them important to preserve.
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