Will Hollywoodland happen? Middletown City Council delay action on controversial project

MIDDLETOWN — UPDATE 10/22

Middletown City Council took no action Thursday night on a development contract for Hollywoodland, after three members said they would abstain from voting, according to our news partners at WCPO.

The controversial $1.3 billion project aims to transform Middletown’s riverfront into a themed entertainment attraction built around the movie industry, with three hotels, a convention center and concert venue.

Developers estimate Hollywoodland would bring 3.5 million visitors annually, but opposition from locals and officials is high.

“Very frustrating,” said Mayor Nicole Condrey, who opposes the project and wanted council to vote. “Our citizens are frustrated. I’m sure council members are frustrated too. So, with that, I guess we’ll just punt it.”

FIRST REPORT 10/5

The Middletown City Council will be voting on the development of a $1.3 billion riverfront entertainment district and theme park later this month.

The mixed-use development, called “Hollywoodland,” would include several hotels, a water park, a large entertainment and concert venue, and an indoor amusement park.

City council members will vote to approve an ordinance authorizing a purchase, sale and development agreement with Main Street Community Capital LLC, according to a release from the city.

The vote is set to take place October 21 following a presentation at the Oct. 5 council meeting from Main Street Community Capital, LLC and their development partners.

The city says the development is expected to include:

• Three hotels
• A major, indoor entertainment and concert venue for large, nationally and internationally-acclaimed artists and touring Broadway productions
• An indoor amusement park containing multiple, themed entertainment-based rides, virtual reality experiences, immersive entertainment opportunities and integrated retail, food & beverage
• Structured and integrated underground deck-based parking (publicly-owned) of no fewer than 3,000 spaces
• On-site, mid-rise, luxury, market-rate apartment units and/or condominiums
• Permanent, pre-and post-production motion picture studio sound stages and support offices and infrastructure
• Multiple, restaurants, bars, brew-pubs, and cafes, and a likely comedy club
• Integrated fashion, electronic, lifestyle, convenience, and recreational retail

“This will be a transformational redevelopment opportunity for Middletown that came out of a redevelopment study for our riverfront property. It will encompass over 50 acres of our historic Downtown,” said City Manager Jim Palenick. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take full advantage of a myriad of local, city, state and federal incentives we have found a way to access, and in turn, and change the future of our city.”

If approved, the city would use $7.5 million in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act toward pre-construction work.

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