New York State Comptroller approves sale of Mid Orange Correctional Facility

Warwick — The Town of Warwick and it's residents finally received the long-awaited news that the last approval needed for it's proposal to acquire and redevelop the former Mid Orange Correctional Facility arrived just before the July 4 holiday.

Ironically, this was almost two years to the day from when the community learned that the prison would be closed under Governor Andrew Cuomo's budget reduction plan.

On June 30, 2011, Gov. Cuomo's office had announced that the Warwick Correctional Facility, just off Kings Highway, was on the list of seven prisons to be closed to save state money. By the end of that year, 322 jobs had been lost and 81 buildings on the 733-acre site were empty and have remained so to this day.

The sign off by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli now clears the way for the real estate closing, which the Town Board has slated for redevelopment as a technology/light manufacturing business park on 120 acres with approximately 130 acres slated for recreation and municipal use which include the sewer and water facilities. The remainder of the parcel is New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) wetlands and will be monitored under an agreement with the Orange County Land Trust.

"While this was a long and arduous journey dealing with five state agencies," said Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton, "it was well worth the effort. This site is the first opportunity Warwick has ever had to create a unique commercial business site that will provide the type of jobs opportunities and tax revenues necessary for the long-term health of our community. I would like to thank the Town Board for their staunch support of this effort and commend our citizens for lending their guidance in the early phases of this project."

A closing on the property will be scheduled in the next 30-60 days as per the approved contract. Survey work, title and environmental review has already been completed, which will allow the closing to conclude fairly quickly.

Upon closing, the portions for redevelopment will be deeded to the Warwick Valley Local Development Corporation (WVLDC), a non-profit public benefit entity, and the remainder will be deeded to the town. Any proceeds from the redevelopment of the site, over and above what the WVLDC will pay to acquire the 120 acres, must be returned to the community's benefit through reinvestment in the site itself.