A $500,000 deal has closed that clears the tracks for the possibility of a train station in Orange. The 13-acre parcel on Marsh Hill Road was sold to Orange Land Development, LLC on Aug. 24.
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First Selectman Jim Zeoli said the train station plans have been an extended and taxing process that has been 15 years in the works. He commended Ed Crowley, the manager of the LLC purchasing the property from Dichello Distributors.
“It’s a very exciting development,” said Zeoli. The Marsh Hill Location, near Interstate 95, is in close proximity to Yale’s West Haven campus and would be a boon to students.
There may be plans to develop some of the property in a small commercial center as well.
Selectman Ken Lenz, called the sale a very positive development for the town.
“This means we’re beyond the planning stage and ready to start implementation,” Lenz said.
He noted a previous bid to bring a train station to Orange failed and the state chose West Haven instead. However, demand remains high and an Orange station could ease one of the biggest burdens found at both the West Haven and Milford stations: parking.
While the sale of the land creates the opportunity for Orange Land Development, LLC to move forward on working with the state to build the station, it is not a set deal yet. Designs and funding still need to be secured, though there are state and federal resources to handle the funding.
Lenz said he couldn’t estimate a time line for how long it would take to get an actual station on the property.
Crowley bought the undeveloped land as a quitclaim, meaning Dichello is held harmless for any flaws on the property. It was bought as is, with easements made to the alcohol distributor for sewer maintenance and rainwater drainage.
Crowley was unavailable for comment.