Community Corner

Town & County Interested in Moving Millwood Train Station

Officials looking at relocating the building onto adjacent property and converting it into a concession stand.

New Castle town and Westchester County officials are looking at a plan that would involve moving the former Millwood train station onto county property, Town Administrator Penny Paderewski said.

The station, Paderewski explained to the Millwood Task Force Thursday at its monthly meeting, would be moved slightly to land near by. It would be moved further south along an existing green strip and closer to a parking lot for the North County Trailway bike path.

The station was once part of the Putnam Line, which had rail service running through Millwood from 1881 to 1958, according to the New Castle Historical Society. The rail line's right of way was converted into the bike path.

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“We’re hoping that we are going to be able to move that train station onto county property," Paderewski said.

The idea would be for the county to then take possession of the station and convert it into a concession stand. Whether it is feasible to move the old station has yet to be determined.

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"It's certainly an attractive idea," said County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz (D-Somers), whose district includes New Castle. He also noted that the idea is still preliminary.

Donna Greene, a spokeswoman for County Executive Rob Astorino, also described the plan as being early.

"I am told this is very preliminary and it is too soon to say if it is feasible."

The building has had several news updates in the past year. Leo Rotta, the station's late property owner, after the town's building department required him to decide on its fate. The structure's physical status drew a safety complaint , which prompted the building department to contact Rotta and request that he either renovate or demolish it. Plans to do so never progressed.

Rotta died in December and the property was taken over by his family. Interest has been expresed in or donating it to the town.

Paulette Rotta Beldotti, Leo Rotta's daughter, confirmed that the family was informed about the idea. She declined to comment on whether they are interested in the proposal.

Moving the building has been done before, according to the historical society, as it originally served as a train station for Briarcliff Manor before being relocated to Millwood in 1909.


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