Civil Municipal Magazine Aug 2023

156 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 8 terminal building. The city has a desirable partner in the airport with much room for commercial growth benefiting the residents of Middletown. The other part of Middletown’s growth equation is the development of its housing options. Offering a good housing stock balance would be the ideal housing scenario so the Middletown area can accommodate all residents. Housing options eyed by other similar-sized cities have included single-family options, mixed-use, multi family and townhouses. Just as in other cities throughout the country, Middletown is feeling the housing squeeze and the need remains for housing stock options that cater to the varying needs of its existing and in-coming residents. Adding to the growth potential for Middletown on the infrastructure end was the $31.3 million road levy that its residents passed in 2020. It’s a decision that will enable the city to substantially overhaul its residential roadway infrastructure covering about 137 lane-miles of public roads and streets. This will allow the city to repave and reconstruct its network of local and connector streets throughout the city Improved roadways will add allure to Middletown’s already well-functioning infrastructure that includes smooth-running arterials that connect residents to their workplaces, and a water and sewer system that represents one of the largest in the region. Additionally, the city offers PACE financing for energy upgrades. PACE programs allow a property owner to finance the up-front cost of energy or other eligible improvements on a property and then pay the costs back over time through a voluntary assessment When it comes to outdoor splendor, few areas can rival Middletown. The City and the surroundings area offers the Great Miami Riverway with more than 99 miles of paved trails that connect cities and towns in a five-county area, winding their way past museums, charming and historic downtowns, picnic facilities, and acres of natural parkland. It is clear that beyond Middletown’s commercial growth and the City’s focus on its parks and the services it provides for its valued residents, the future of Middletown is more about maintaining a family feel as it continues to grow and prosper. By putting its residents first, the charm that has held them there for generations is not lost, the community spirit is strengthened, and as the city embraces dynamic growth, it also embraces everyone that calls Middletown home.