EAST LONGMEADOW  – The Community Preservation Committee voted to pass along its recommendation to town official that East Longmeadow seek to purchase the property on Maple Street on which the train depot sits for no more than $700,000.

The action, though, is not to save the historic train depot, but rather preserve the property for future use by the town.

The vote came at the committee meeting on April 5 after a presentation by member George Kingston that showed the town-owned rail trail is wide enough about 200 feet away from the depot’s present location to be a permanent location for the structure that was constructed in 1877.

“We have room for it,” Kingston said. He added it would be less expensive to move it further along the rail trail than anywhere else.

Stephen Graham owns the depot and there have been talks about selling it to to the Amherst Railway Society, which would then move it to Storrowton Village at the Big E grounds.

Committee member Anthony Zampiceni believes Graham may not go through with that plan if a location in town could be found.

“I’m hoping he will say yes,” Zampiceni added.

Committee member William Caplin expressed concerns about the depot. He said an examination of the building indicated there are between $200,000 to $300,000 in repairs and renovations. He said the lead paint is chipping and there is no heat, electricity or plumbing. It is not complaint to rules concerning handicapped accessibility and the chimney is unstable.  He is also worried about the status of the roof and potential dry rot of timbers.

Zampiceni countered that Dennis Picard of Storrowton and others have looked at the building and said it is structurally sound.

Jay Lefebvre, who last year announced he intends to work with a developer to build a mosque on the site, owns the property on which the depot presently is located. The complete plans have not yet been submitted to the town and Lefebvre has also indicated the land is available for purchase at the cost of $1.3 million.

Caplin said the current assessment of the land is less than $500,000.

Committee member Thomas Wilson observed there are two issues rather than one presented by the discussion. Acquiring and moving the depot onto town property is distinct from potentially using Community Preservation money to purchase the land from Lefebvre.

“We don’t need the property to preserve the depot,” Wilson said.

Committee Chair Ralph Page expressed concern that buying the property at $1.3 million would tie up the committee’s resources for years and would prevent it to consider other projects.

The committee did not approve that action.

Committee member Thomas Kaye said there are already potential projects that could be undertaken at Heritage Park, for instance.  

Other committee members expressed concern about trying to buy property for which there is no plan for its use.

Kaye then made a motion to ask the town to consider making an offer to Lefebvre to purchase his property for no more than $700,000. This motion passed.

Zampiceni  volunteered to lead the effort to determine the costs entailed with moving and restoring the depot.