(file photo)
MIDDLETOWN – The City of Middletown will take back title to the O&W Station in effort to salvage the decaying landmark.
The structure, which has been vacant for years and heavily damaged by fire, was sold to the former Middletown Family Health Center for $1. The agency was going to restore it for offices by securing federal funding.
That never came to pass, the health center fell on hard financial times and recently handed itself over to Newburgh-based Cornerstone Family Healthcare.
Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano said the city will give it one more try to restore the building.
“There are a few other state programs that we will try to take a look at,” the mayor said. “Our hope has always been to have the station restored either to historic standards or close to historic standards to save that fabulous structure, but it’s becoming more and more difficult. Due to some public feedback, they have asked us to take another look and as soon as we have control of the property, we will begin trying to put together a plan to market the property.”
DeStefano said there are no definitive plans in the works at this time, but a full study will be conducted once the city assumes control of the building.
