MIDDLETOWN – Lt. Governor
Kathy Hochul left Middletown City Hall on Monday following a briefing
about the city’s plans to spend a $10 million Downtown Revitalization
Initiative very impressed with the progress the city has made already
and the plans to spend the state grant to further its redevelopment.
Mayor Joseph DeStefano filled Hochul in on the many projects on the drawing
boards from building a parking deck to accommodate visitors to the Paramount
Theater, more housing and transportation opportunities to redeveloping
the long-vacant Woolworth building on North Street.
DeStefano briefs Hochul at City Hall
Hochul meets staff t Equilibrium Brewery
The lieutenant governor was enthused by what she heard and saw.
“Having the theater, having the incubator, having the brewery, having
the downtown housing, having the vision to deal with your parking challenges,
because once you are successful, if you want to be here, they also don’t
want to deal with parking or transportation. So your buses are great,”
she said. “Also knowing your community’s population is expanding
because you are being very welcoming. People from different backgrounds
able to find a home here is going to add to the great diversity.”
DeStefano is ready to make the city shine with the state money.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime and we are not going to blow
it,” he told her.
Following the briefing, the officials walked over the new Equilibrium
Brewery for a tour and a sample of their craft beer.
