Middletown eyes former psychiatric center building for $65M UPK, BOCES school
The proposed project would bring universal pre-K, regional special education classrooms and community space to the former Kleiner Building, but more funding is needed.
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A dilapidated building at the former Middletown Psychiatric Center could get a new life as a school for some of the Hudson Valley’s youngest students.
Middletown officials are proposing a $65 million renovation of the abandoned Kleiner Building to house the city’s universal pre-K program and specialized elementary education programs through a partnership with Orange-Ulster BOCES.
News 12 got an exclusive walkthrough Wednesday of the 84,000-square-foot building with Middletown School Superintendent Amy Creeden and Mayor Joe DeStefano.
Inside, graffiti-covered walls, peeling paint and damaged ceilings show the extent of the work needed to transform the former psychiatric center recreation building into classrooms.
Creeden says the district hopes to bring its pre-K students onto the school campus while Orange-Ulster BOCES would lease classroom space for some of the region’s youngest children who need specialized educational services.
The proposal comes as new state requirements will soon require school districts to eliminate universal pre-K waitlists. Officials also say the need for specialized education programs throughout the region continues to grow.
“There are hundreds of people that sit on waitlists right now because there aren’t programs available to support their unique needs,” Creeden said.
Some children requiring those services are currently bused outside Orange County for their education.
“I’ve had relatives on that bus for an hour a day each way, and for a five-year-old child, it’s devastating,” DeStefano said.
The proposed renovation would include classrooms, a cafeteria, a library and outdoor play areas. Plans also call for restoring the building’s gymnasium and auditorium for school and community use. The project has already received $10 million in state funding, but officials say additional state money is needed to move forward.
Creeden estimates the total renovation could cost approximately $65 million, including extensive interior reconstruction, asbestos removal and improvements to the building’s heating system. She says the district's goal is to complete the project without additional costs to local school taxpayers.
The proposal is still in the early planning stages, with district voters potentially deciding on the project as early as May 2027.
If approved and fully funded, officials say the renovation could take approximately five years to complete.
