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funding was sent to the Housing and Home Finance Agency (HHFA), the Federal agency which administered UR programs. Initial approval was received November 6, 1956. The first part of the program would involve acquiring property, then demolishing whatever structure was on the property, and redeveloping it. On September 30, 1958, the first acquisition appraisals were started.
The contract for demolition was finally awarded to Hudson Demolition Company of Spring Valley on November 24, 1958. Demolitions began December 4, 1958 on Fulton Street and East Avenue. Many displaced residents moved to David Moore Heights, which opened October 22, 1957. Some homes and buildings were in excellent shape and were apparently rather Senselessly demolished. The entire east side of James Street was demolished. A lack of parking would be eased by several new parking lots. Another housing project, Summitfield opened April 20, 1963.
Despite these efforts, when Orange Plaza on Route 211 opened, the downtown area eventually collapsed. Additionally, the city, for no understandable reason, destroyed two fine landmark buildings on North Street. One was the beautiful building across from Woolworth's. This had been completed in February, 1856 for James
se Wheeler was the architect. It is now the site of a small "park." On the other side of the street. near the square the former Stern building was razed and the site sits vacant. Slowly, it seems the architectural treasures of this city are being destroyed or mutilated. Fine detail is ruined by people who "put their house in a can' by applying the horror of aluminum or vinyl siding.
In the late 1970's Middletown campaigned for abandonment of the "main line" railroad track through the city. When it was decided to upgrade the Graham line and abandon the Erie's old main, Middletown began planning a downtown revitalization program. On April 16, 1983, the last passenger train went through Middletown. On May 11, 1983, Mayor Richard Hutchings signed the deed for the Conrail land. This took place at what was then the Sheraton Inn on Fulton Street. Workers began removing rail from the downtown rail yard in June, rails from the main line in August. In September, the Public Work Department began work on the former Erie station to help prevent deterioration.
After preliminary surveys, ISI (Investment Services Incorporated) of Boston was hired to oversee development of the railroad property in 1984. In the summer of 1984, a $15 Million Federal grant was approved, the largest in the city's history, to upgrade the sewer system. Tompkins, a business long associated with downtown, declared bankruptcy in October, 1984. Several years later, Crawford's Furniture on King Street would end operations as well.
In April, 1986, the Common Council authorized the sale of land on John Street to build "The Heritage" for senior citizens. The