Middletown unveils major station, housing, park and water plans

Middletown’s mayor laid out an ambitious slate of infrastructure and development priorities after being sworn in to another four-year term on Jan. 8, 2026. The agenda centers on a major rehabilitation of the historic O & W (M&NJ) train station, several mixed-use housing projects, a possible Hilton-brand hotel, park upgrades and a new intermunicipal water and wastewater arrangement with neighboring Goshen.

The town announced that construction bids for the O & W station have been awarded and a list of bid amounts and estimated project costs was presented to officials. Work on the station is expected to be completed by March 31, 2027. The rehabilitation aims to preserve the station’s historic fabric while making it usable for community and commercial purposes, a move that officials say will anchor downtown revitalization and spur activity along the canal corridor.

Housing and commercial development were a clear focus. A proposal at 4–8 Franklin Street would add more than 36 residential units with ground-floor commercial space, part of a broader push for mixed-use projects that include affordable housing components. Separately, a developer has floated plans for a more than 100-room Hilton-brand hotel at 9–29 Canal St., though those talks remain in an early stage. Together, the projects are intended to increase housing options and bring new foot traffic to Main Street, but they also raise questions about parking, traffic and neighborhood character that will be central at upcoming public reviews.

Recreational improvements include upgrades at Maple Hill Park, where the longstanding pool is slated to be replaced with a splash pad and an outdoor National Fitness Court will be installed. Expected grant funding was cited for both park enhancements and redevelopment of the Kleiner Center, signaling the town’s intent to expand outdoor amenities and programming for youth and seniors.

On regional services, Middletown and the Town of Goshen discussed an intermunicipal water and wastewater agreement in which Middletown would sell up to 300,000 gallons per day to Goshen and provide wastewater treatment. Officials framed the arrangement as practical regional cooperation that can secure revenue and support local infrastructure needs, while potentially smoothing water supply pressures during dry periods.

The mayor also listed alley beautification projects downtown and expanded youth and senior programming as priorities intended to complement bricks-and-mortar investments with quality-of-life improvements. The presentation included bid figures and cost estimates for several projects, details local stakeholders will review as projects move toward permitting and contract phases.

The plans promise construction jobs and a busier downtown, but they will also bring temporary disruptions and longer-term questions about density, parking and municipal services. Our two cents? Track planning-board agendas, show up to public hearings and weigh design and traffic proposals carefully — these projects will shape Middletown’s downtown for years, so your input matters.