St. Vincent de Paul To Be Awarded Green Street School

click to enlarge

Mayor Dan Drew released on Facebook a letter announcing that he has selected St. Vincent DePaul as the new owner of the Green Street building that most recently housed the Green Street Arts Center. St. Vincent DePaul won out over a proposal from the Community Health Center and from a coalition of volunteers looking to develop the Middletown Community Green Center.

St. Vincent DePaul will use it to expand the services that it provides to less fortunate members of our community, these services include not only food but also a variety of housing, counseling, and training.  Its acquisition of the building is contingent on the sale of its Main Street property for use by a business consistent with the city's plan for Main Street.

The three proposals were vetted by the Economic Development Commission, but the decision was ultimately the mayor's to make.

click to enlarge

Drew praised the work of the CHC, he noted that this building was not necessary for its growth, the city would be happy to work with it to ensure its continued success.

Drew criticized the application of the Middletown Community Green Center on procedural and substantive grounds. He said that the organization was not legally incorporated and it presumed to have access to federal grants which are committed to other uses by another organization. He also damned the applicant for not showing it is a "collaborative member of the community".