WINDSOR LOCKS — A demolition application has been approved by the Building Department to begin work on the new train station development.
The 5,088-square-foot structure, which sits in front of the Windsor Locks Canal at 231 Main St. Demolition is being done by True Blue Environmental Inc.
According to the application, the structure is “greater than 50 years old but has been deemed nonhistorical” by the State Historic Preservation Office.
The demolition will cost the town $15,768, per the application.
At this time, True Blue Environmental is prepping for the demolition, which includes a site clean up, Building Official Mark Doody said. This includes removing plywood from doors and windows and also removing asepsis shingles.
Once that is completed, the structure will be demolished in a single day, Doody said.
In the past, the building has served as a dentist office, dog-grooming service, and an adult video store.
The town has received a $17.4 million federal grant for a new train station from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration under its Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements Program.
Doody calls the demolition a sign of moving forward with the train station.
“The demolition is part of the site prep for the station,” he said. “Currently we are still waiting for second rail to be installed and the designs to be changed.”
According to First Selectman J. Christopher Kervick, demolition was scheduled to start Monday, but Amtrak halted it in a dispute over Amtrak safety requirements.
Kervick noted that Amtrak requires on-site flaggers to make sure contractors don’t walk in front of oncoming trains.
“It’s often unclear if the flaggers are required to be on Amtrak property or near the property,” he said.
