Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission Rejects Chick-fil-A Plan, Spares Historic Home
The Middletown Planning and Zoning Commission has rejected a proposal to demolish a nearly 300-year-old home to make way for a Chick-fil-A restaurant. The Partridge Southmayd House, a colonial saltbox built in 1739 and located at 797 Washington St., will remain in place for now. The historic home is currently vacant, and its owners had sought to have it deconstructed and relocated. Municipal historian Deborah Shapiro spoke against the removal, highlighting the home's historical significance, including its connection to enslaved workers who stayed there while constructing the nearby Seth Wetmore House in the 1740s. While some residents were open to the project, they preferred the historic home to be preserved within Middletown or integrated into the site plans. The Commission's decision means the home's future remains uncertain, though the property owner and project applicant have options to resubmit modified plans or appeal the ruling. Separately, a credit union was approved for a neighboring parcel of lan...
