Set along the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the borough of Middletown was first laid out in 1755. The community served as a supply depot for the Colonial armies during the Revolutionary War and continues to carry a strong agricultural heritage. Middletown flourished as an 18th century trading center, serving as a "post town" set midway along the Old Stage Coach Road between Lancaster and Carlisle.

An Engaging Architectural Heritage

Middletown has a distinctive downtown area, known for an array of architectural styles that reflect its centuries-old history. There is a circa 1767, Georgian-style Lutheran church; farm structures that date to 1806; a log cabin built around 1820 that served as a ferry house; an 1833 brick and stone structure that served as a home and a bank; a pair of Queen-Anne style mansions from the late 1800s; and a synagogue that dates to 1906. All appear on the National Register of Historic Places.

Like many historic downtown districts, Middletown has been faced with the challenges of maintaining a vibrant economic core that is attractive to businesses and visitors. With much to offer — including the unique quilt of architectural styles, the popular Middletown & Hummelstown Railway, and proximity to Harrisburg and Penn State University's local campus — borough leaders are embracing comprehensive measures to revitalize the downtown area.

We've had the chance to work with the borough in the past on disaster recovery services related to recent flooding and are now helping to lead the planning efforts for this project. Since this project incorporated dual themes of economic development and historic preservation, we brought in specialists from Rosenstein Research and the Architecture Design Group.

A Downtown Destination

We are currently working with the borough to enhance access to the downtown area, improve the streetscape, create a town square and civic plaza, all while incorporating plans for additional parking and signage improvements. There is a lot to do, and the challenge is compelling: create concepts respecting the historic elements that define much of the downtown while incorporating the latest strategies for improving retail and community dynamics.

This unique situation will become more commonplace as more historic communities turn to engineering and architectural solutions to spur economic development. Our goal is to renew downtown Middletown and return this historic district to prominence as a modern "trading post" and crossroads destination once again.