A FedEx distribution facility will be built on the long-vacant plot of land at 161 Marsh Hill Rd. in Orange, known locally as the “Stew Leonard” property, according to a town official familiar with the plans who wished to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter.
Speculation over what company would be coming to town has been circulating for months, ever since developers submitted a proposal to build 47,178 square foot distribution facility and a 9,680 square foot maintenance building for an unnamed business-to-business shipping company. The application passed the final town regulatory hurdles needed to begin development in late November.
The contract purchaser of the property is developer Scannell Properties LLC, and the owner is Stew Leonard’s Orange LLC.
Scannell Properties has built other FedEx distribution facilities around the country, including in Pflugerville, Texas, Pacoima, California and West Palm Beach, Florida.
The land has been dormant for over 20 years. Stew Leonard Jr. had tried for 14 years to create a supermarket and petting zoo there before abandoning that project in 2010.