The Stew Leonard’s property at 161 Marsh Hill Road, Orange, will remain vacant and undeveloped a bit longer. Plans to build a multi-story office building on the property have come to a temporary halt according to the developer, Bob Scinto.
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Scinto’s company, R. D. Sinto, Inc., located in Shelton, holds the option to develop the property owned by Stew Leonard’s of Orange, LLC.
The land was at one time set to be a new Stew Leonard’s grocery store location but met with fierce opposition from residents. Approvals for the store were overturned in 2008. Stew Leonard’s abandoned plans for the property altogether in 2010, 14 years after purchasing it.
Scinto holds the option to develop the property, a right he retains so long as he makes monthly payments to Stew Leonard’s.
Last summer Scinto announced he would build a four-story office complex on site to accommodate a planned move by IT company Tangoe. The building was designed with their specialized needs in mind.
But now, according to Scinto, Tangoe has rescinded their desire to move following a management change.
“It’s possible they may revisit the idea but for now they’ve pulled out,” said Scinto.
In the meantime, he is entertaining offers from other interested parties. Until Scinto has a solid interest in the property, all development is on hold. New tenants would mean a new building design and restarting the process.
Orange Zoning Enforcement Officer Paul Dinice said a veterans’ support center had inquired if such a facility would be an acceptable use. Dinice said his initial understanding was that it would be but he’d need to see a more detailed description of usage.
Scinto confirmed a veterans group had contacted him, but there was no plan to build a facility for them and there was no serious offer on the table.
Annemarie Sliby, executive director of the Orange Economic Development Corporation, remains confident that something will happen with the property.
“This property is a prime location for any business. Mr. Scinto’s projects are spectacular and we have full confidence in his ability with this property,” Sliby said.