MIDDLETOWN, N.Y.–Local and state officials came together on Sept. 4 to announce $6.6 million in state funding to transform the dilapidated Solomon Kleiner Center into “a shining star” for arts and recreation.
Speaker of the New York state Assembly Carl Heastie visited Middletown on Sept. 4 during his annual tour around the state. He was joined outside the old recreation center by Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano, state Sen. James Skoufis, Town of Wallkill Supervisor George Serrano, Middletown Alderman Jerry Kleiner, and state Assemblymember Paula Kay.
Kay announced that the state Assembly will be investing $3.3 million into the Kleiner Center, saying that the building should be renovated so it can be used by residents of Middletown for arts and recreation.
“We know, based on Mayor DeStefano and his team and their amazing track record, that they are going to pull off an incredible project here that will transform what we’ve seen behind us into a shining star of the city of Middletown,” Kay said.
The project is expected to be completed in five years.
Heastie said: “Our communities need and deserve places where they can come together and connect with each other across generations. This funding will allow Middletown to renovate and revitalize the Kleiner Center and make it a destination for families here in Orange County.”
Skoufis took the opportunity to announce that the state Senate would match the Assembly’s funding with another $3.3 million for the center. The Senate chose to match the funds, he said, because of Middletown’s demonstrated responsible handling of projects.
As proof, the state senator pointed to Middletown’s growth in recent years. “The city of Middletown downtown, even just six, seven, eight years ago ... [it was] like tumbleweeds down the business corridor. You go there now, and it’s anything but. It’s vibrant, it’s energetic.”
“What we’re going to do is turn a building that’s been vacant since, I believe, 2006—almost 20 years. This building has sat here, mothballed, collecting dust, squatters, fires in vacant buildings around this campus. And we’re going to turn this building into a state-of-the-art cultural arts tourist magnet and a classroom space, studio space for the college, a community space for the city of Middletown and the surrounding area.”
The Solomon Kleiner Center was built in the mid-1960s and was part of the Middletown Psychiatric Center. It served as an activities center, and has a gym, bowling alley, auditorium, and pool. It was abandoned in 2006. The mayor estimated that it needs over $10 million in renovations.
The old psychiatric campus, now called the Middletown Community Campus, is part of the Brownfield Opportunity Area program, which has access to government funding. DeStefano says that Middletown is still looking for more grants to fund the project.
The building is named after Middletown Alderman Kleiner’s father, who made major contributions to the old psychiatric hospital.
