A potential developer is interested in vacant land next to the restored Orange train depot, but no plans have been made, members of the board of the depot group told the Orange City Council Tuesday evening.
The city held a public hearing and the council approved the first reading of an ordinance for the city to abandon 11th Street from Green Avenue north to Elm Avenue on the east side of the depot.
Architect Rob Clark, who has designed the restoration of the depot, said the move to add the street area to site is the first step in any development.
Board member George Bohn said there is no timeline for the street to be taken in or for the development.
Carrie Joyner Wolliver, formerly of Orange, and her husband, Ron, bought the long-abandoned Southern Pacific Depot and established the non-profit group Friends of the Orange Depot. Later, Susan Quigley of Orange donated to the group almost a full block of vacant land directly to the east of the depot.
The depot and the property are divided by 11th Street. The depot group plans to use the street for parking as part of a design that could tie in the depot with shops and businesses.
Mayor Jimmy Sims said the public will see that the city has abandoned the street and will ask when something will be coming. That’s when Clark said the street abandonment is the first step for the possible development.
No public comments were made during the public hearing and the council vote was unanimous. The city will retain right-of-way for the water and sewer lines.
The council also approved a zone change adjustment at 402 Simmons Drive near the northeast corner with Green Avenue. Cypress Bayou Industrial requested the change to use an area to store metal from its adjacent fabrication building. No comments were made.
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