Middletown, NY... any potential? or just a depressed city? (Monroe: apartments, condo)
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Middletown, NY in orange county. does this place have any potential to grow, and become an urban hub for orange county county? or is it just a poor, economically depressed town that will continue to have crime/drug problems?
I think it's just going to continue getting worse. Close proximity to Newburgh and NYC don't help. And then above it you've got Sullivan county which is a mess. Actually that whole area is on a downturn. I'm in Monroe and we have our own problems lol... annexations!
Middletown, NY in orange county. does this place have any potential to grow, and become an urban hub for orange county county? or is it just a poor, economically depressed town that will continue to have crime/drug problems?
They are trying, but unemployment, housing values and a surplus of housing and land has resulted in depressed values, reduced tax revenues and poor chances to improve. I doubt it will improve a lot in teh near future, but long term there is hope.
I've only been here two years but I've become very active in the community and try to find out as much as I can about what's going on in the area. I make some connections by being with the FD (Engine 5 on N.Street). Middletown definitely does have some issues that I've seen first hand (being a resident and going out on calls). Drugs, illegal tenants in apts, gangs, prostitution, robberies, etc. Big city issues in a small town. But quite honestly I love the area. It's pretty diverse, there is a ton of good food in the area, much of what you need is close (Woodbury, Galleria, Pallisades), access to the metro and a love of the downtown.
In the last decade the city has grown at nearly 10% pace. More people, more needs, potentially more business. The city is trying or already has passed some codes trying to get rid of the houses being overcrowded apartments. They are getting strict on landlords letting apartments being neglected or overcrowded. The recent craft beer explosion in the state is (IMO) a driver for two breweries being located in downtown Middletown soon not too mention another (german I think) beer company being located on route 6 between Goshen and Middletown. Middletown has also opened Touro college with a potential for two more colleges to go over in the old Middletown Psych Hospital. The Hoboken Film festival now calls its home Middletown which causes a nice little surge for businesses for a week in the summer near paramount theater as well as causing a recent interest in some films being filmed in Middletown. Not blockbusters or A list celebs but anything helps right? There are come condo's going up around the area, not necessarily in the borders of the city but Walkill and Middletown are right on each other I've noticed alot of people just refer to the Middletown-Walkill area as just Middletown. That being said Walkill has alot of the businesses and a pretty sizeable healthcare section from Orange Regional all the way down E. Main till past the turn for the galleria. With an aging population healthcare needs will be increasing so that little medical corridor will be a well used spot for the county. Wallkill also has a few companies investing in the area (I think one company makes engines for planes). And in some ways I'm not too sure about yet, the county thinks the recently approved Casino up by Monticello will bring investments as people travel on 17 to the casino they will pass Middletown. Maybe some hotels, restaurants or something? At the very least gas stations haha. 17 is already crowded in the summer so I hope it at least results in a widening of the road to three lanes.
For the OP, are you looking to invest or just curious?
^ great answer! looking for a place to live within the NYC region and is in mountains rather than by ocean. and has long term potential Middletown is at the top of my list right now
And in some ways I'm not too sure about yet, the county thinks the recently approved Casino up by Monticello will bring investments as people travel on 17 to the casino they will pass Middletown. Maybe some hotels, restaurants or something? At the very least gas stations haha. 17 is already crowded in the summer so I hope it at least results in a widening of the road to three lanes.
That area's been in a state of perpetual bridge and highway construction for the past 10 years. They might as well throw another lane in while they're at it
There's a mall and every big box store and chain restaurant within a half mile of 17 and 211. I don't know what else they could put in there. Of course I'm sure they'll think of something. I suppose an easy in and out gas station like a Wawa would be nice. 211 can be a pain to navigate.
Middletown is hopeless. They already have the equivalent of a Wawa with 1 on 211 and another on 17M at the intersection where it meets I-84. Lot of good these 2 locations are doing.
Bottom line is the concept of the " city" doesn't work. Pretty much Every city in ths country is an economic failure. Too much gov't , corruption, higher crime all adds up to a colassal failure
There's a mall and every big box store and chain restaurant within a half mile of 17 and 211. I don't know what else they could put in there. Of course I'm sure they'll think of something. I suppose an easy in and out gas station like a Wawa would be nice. 211 can be a pain to navigate.
We might be getting a Dave and Busters! The FYE went out in the mall so I heard might go to D&B haha
gottaq It really is a great location. It's near anything I want
Outdoors: I hunt in Orange, there are plenty of trails, you can kayak down the Delaware over by Port Jervis, camping, running, there is a drive in theater in Warwick, quite a few wineries, Bear Mountain, Zip lining at Hunter Mountain (longest and highest track in northern hemisphere) High Point, all kinds of festivals, Catskills are right behind us, Pennsylvania and their wooded glory is right next door...
Entertainment: Bethel Woods has some good acts, theaters, comedy clubs in Chester and Palisades Mall, if you're into art you can see exhibits in Warwick or Beacon or Cold Spring, West Point has Eisenhower Hall with all kinds of stand up, off broadway, movies, ballet, etc,
Food: I think is really underrated. Each little town has at least one or two places that are very good. Warwick: Eddies, Coquito, Grappa Chester: Christophers Bistro, Allens Falafel Goshen: Lumincello's, Kelley Jeans Middletown: Cuchifrito, La Fonda Boricua, Destefano's Eerie, Nina's, Tony Boffa's and a TON more
Shopping: Middletown area is a shopping hub for the county. Besides Woodburry-Harriman, Middletown is where alot of people go for stuff like holiday shopping.
NY Metro: Sure this area is on the fringe but there is no denying we are part of the metro. The US Census Bureau designates us as that, the taxes we pay reaffirm it. Get to know enough people in town and you'll notice half of them are from the city (and they let you know it haha). I think a majority of our local channels are NY and Northern Jersey stations. You can take the bus to the city and of course the Port Jervis Line to Secaucus and then transfer to NY Penn (about 1h 45min). And driving? As long as you don't hit traffic it's really not that bad. I've made it from my apt in Middletown to a parking garage in the financial district in an hour and 5 mins. But I've also taken about 3-4 hours to get in there when hitting traffic. I prefer the train. It can be longer but you get to sit and relax.
Long term potential, Middletown def has it in my opinion. It has the public transit (Metro, buses, Middletown Area Transit buses (MAT)) and has land around it for expansion. Twenty years from now Orange county could look like N. Jersey or Rockland county. It will always be cheaper than living in the city so as more and more get priced out of there, they will move upstate or into western jersey. It's diverse. Latino's make up almost half the city with blacks around 20% and whites and Asians making up the rest. What's cool is the makeup of each of those groups. Whites: Did you know there is a decent Italian population in Middletown? So much so if you go on the city's website they offer ITALIAN translations, on top of Spanish. Black: I've met Jamaicans, Haitians, and you can see from some of the restaurant types there are a decent amount of Caribbeans on top of other locales they might descend from. Latino: Did you know that outside of the Bronx, Middletown has the next highest concentration of Puerto Ricans? Ive also met Columbians, Guatemalans, and Mexicans. And they bring with them their amazing food! Asians: I think is the smallest sect in town but so far I've met a few Phillipino's and I know there are Chinese and Japanese. What does this all have to do with future potential? I think as people are drawn up here it will be advantageous for business. It can feel inclusive rather than a town that's all white, latino or black.
I know there are people that don't want anymore people up here, don't like the diversity, think people=more crime, etc butit's a great place and I only see it moving ahead in the future.
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