Historic Tax Credits
$8.13 Million Federal
$4.95 Million State
New Markets Tax Credits
$5 Million
Total Project Cost
$43.8 Million
Project Partner
City of Middletown
Impact
Childcare Services, Social Services
History
A Regional Railroad
Constructed between 1892 and 1893, the New York, Ontario & Western Railway Station stands as one of Middletown’s most significant historic landmarks. Designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by prominent railroad architect Bradford Lee Gilbert, the station served both as a passenger terminal and as the principal offices of the Ontario & Western Railway. Expansions in 1904 and 1920, designed by local architect David Canfield, reflected the railroad’s growth and introduced new architectural elements while preserving the building’s commanding presence.
For more than six decades, the station played a central role in Middletown’s economic and civic life, anchoring the city’s connection to regional transportation networks. After passenger service ended in 1957, the building saw a series of adaptive uses before falling vacant following a fire in 2004. Despite years of deterioration, the station has retained its defining historic character and remains a powerful symbol of Middletown’s railroad heritage.
Revitalization Efforts
Head Start at the Station
Once complete, the historic Ontario & Western Railway Station will consolidate Head Start and other childcare programming operated by the Regional Economic Community Action Program (RECAP) that is currently spread across two leased locations in Middletown. Today, RECAP serves 136 Head Start children in facilities housed within active churches that cannot effectively support the needs of children, families, or staff. These two locations will be relocated and expanded at the Project, enabling RECAP to serve additional students while improving the quality of its services.
The redeveloped facility will provide larger classrooms with accessible bathrooms, space for disability services, adequate storage, private offices and meeting rooms, a separate parent area, a large-group training space, an indoor gross-motor space, and ADA-compliant access throughout. Outdoor improvements are anticipated to include three preschool environments: an accessible playground, an active playground, and an outdoor classroom with a tricycle track, art studio, and dramatic play stage.
Community Impact
Filling a Gap
The Project will significantly expand and strengthen early childhood and family services in Middletown by consolidating RECAP’s two existing Head Start locations into a single, purpose-built facility. Currently, RECAP serves 136 children ages 3–5 across leased, suboptimal sites. At the Project, RECAP will increase preschool enrollment to 146 children annually and add two new programs: one serving infants and toddlers ages 6 weeks to 3 years with an estimated enrollment of 40 children, and another serving children ages 5 and older with an estimated enrollment of 36 children.
The new facility will allow RECAP to provide full day Head Start programming to 100% of children ages 3–5, compared to current
operations where 62 children are enrolled in part day sessions and 74 in full day sessions. All enrolled children will receive additional services, including early childhood substance abuse prevention, in class mental health support, vision and health screenings, and developmental screening.
The Project will also expand services for families, increasing adult education and asset building services, such as financial education and debt counseling, from 124 to 135 adults annually. Onsite operations will support about 73 fulltime equivalent jobs (41 retained and 32 created), with 99% of positions paying a Living Wage or higher and offering comprehensive benefits.
Children Served
222 Annually
Adult Education Services
135 Adults/Families Annually
Historic Space Restored
26,400 Square Feet
Jobs Supported
41 Retained & 32 Created
Population Served
90% From Low-Income Households
NTCIC & Progress
Financing
NTCIC provided a $5 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation, as well as an equity investment in the $13 million federal and state Historic Tax Credits generated by the Project. These investments supported the rehabilitation of the Ontario & Western Railway Station and its conversion into a community serving childcare facility.
In addition to NTCIC’s NMTC allocation, the Project leveraged an additional $7 million in New Markets Tax Credit allocation from Empire State New Market Corporation, as well as more than $30.05MM from the City of Middletown which included cash on hand, bond proceeds, ARPA funds, and $7.9MM in NY state agency
grants, reflecting strong local and statewide support for the redevelopment.
NTCIC served as the federal NMTC allocatee and acted as the federal and state Historic Tax Credit investment sourcer, underwriter, and closer. NTCIC also serves as the asset manager for the New Markets and Historic Tax Credits investments, and fund manager for the Historic Tax Credit investments, providing ongoing oversight and coordination across multiple financing sources to support the Project’s long-term success.
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