PSEG Long Island closes $16M purchase of Medford site

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PSEG Long Island has closed on its purchase of 24.3 acres in Medford that was the longtime home of Country Fair Entertainment and Event Park. 

The sale price was not disclosed, though real estate industry sources say the sprawling property sold for about $16 million. 

PSEG Long Island purchased the site “as agent of and behalf of” the Long Island Power Authority to develop the Medford Operations Center, according to a statement from the utility. The operations center will consist of two new warehouses totaling 37,000 square feet, as well as the existing 10,690-square-foot building on the property that will be used as administrative offices. The facility will also have parking capacity for hundreds of vehicles and trucks. 

“We have worked with the Town of Brookhaven and the Medford Taxpayers and Civic Association on the proposed site plan, and we received the necessary approvals from the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission,” a PSEG Long Island spokeswoman said via email. “This property will be used for a new centralized operational center to enhance response times and the quality of service in the Brookhaven area.” 

The Country Fair park, which closed at the end of last summer, had been in operation for 23 years. The property was first offered for sale three-and-a-half years ago. 

“We took it to market as its exclusive broker in September 2020,” said Mark Walsh, a principal of Huntington-based Select Real Equity Advisors. 

John Thomas, also a principal of Select Real Equity Advisors, said the brokerage firm explored potential uses for the site with many of the area’s top developers, including retail, multifamily, and warehouse and distribution.  

“We were even in contract with a different buyer looking to develop an alternate use, but after meetings with town officials and local civics, it was determined that the best use was for the LIPA/PSEG operations center,” Thomas said. “Many jobs will be created, and the community storm response time will be greatly improved for Brookhaven residents.” 

The buyer was represented by Space Realty, while Select Real Equity Advisors represented the seller, Country Fair Leasing LLC, in the sales transaction.