It’s back to the drawing board for the former Dennis Sunoco station at 842 Broadway.
The burned-out shell and accompanying junkyard, badly damaged in a 2018 fire, was due to be remediated. The Newburgh City Council, in December, reviewed a plan submitted by Chestnut Petroleum Distributors, Inc. (CPD) to remediate the site and build a convenience store at the site. The New York Environmental Protection and Spill Compensation Fund was supposed to handle the subsurface remediation including the removal of underground gasoline tanks. The remediation was due to be completed by the end of April.
But the only work that has taken place at the site has been the erection of fencing around the entire property. Junk vehicles and junk tires and assorted other garbage remains strewn throughout the site. On Monday, Councilman Robert Sklarz reported that the plan had fallen through, and project has been submitted again through the City of Newburgh Planning and Development office for a request for proposal [RFP] on the project.
The property was the livelihood of Dennis Derry, a well known local mechanic from Newburgh. It was destroyed in a December 2018 fire. Six months later, on June 2, 2019, Derry passed away at the age of 66.
According to the RFP, the property itself is estimated to be just under an acre with 203.5 feet of entry space facing Broadway. In 1945, the building itself was built at 3,360 square feet.
No reason was given for the withdrawal of Chestnut Petroleum Distributors from the project. The New Paltz-based company operates 65 convenience stores. Recent projects include demolishing the former Dickie’s Diner on Route 9W in Marlboro and building a modern convenience store, selling Mobil gasoline and Dunkin Donuts. According to the representatives, CPD was looking to rebuild the lot with 5,000 square feet for retail with no plans to sell retail gasoline at the site. Estimated investment costs are $1.5 million.
New RFP bids by any interested parties are due to the city comptroller’s office by Friday, May 13.