NEW YORK CITY—Historic railcar nonprofit organization TOYX Inc. announced on Jan. 23 that the city of Port Jervis, New York, has approached it to negotiate a new direct lease, extending TOYX’s use of land the organization utilizes for its preservation activities.
TOYX leases 8.67 acres of abandoned industrial and railroad property in Port Jervis from the Outdoor Club of Port Jervis, including the historic Erie Turntable property. TOYX has been keeping its 27 restored historic train cars and rail equipment on that land since 2021, and its lease on the property is set to end in 2031.
In late 2025, TOYX was informed by the city of Port Jervis that the lease would be ending in July 2026, and that it had eight months to move all of its equipment and train cars elsewhere.
TOYX said in its statement on social media announcing the negotiations, “We are optimistic that a mutually beneficial agreement will be reached to continue and expand TOYX’s ongoing preservation and interpretation of this City-owned historic site.”
The train car nonprofit confirmed its dedication to providing the public a way to experience the city’s heritage through historic railcars and artifacts, and it thanked the city for the opportunity to renew the lease.
TOYX said in a statement on Dec. 3, 2025, that the city would be pursuing a brownfield remediation grant from the state to clean up the property for private development. Port Jervis Mayor Dominic Cicalese confirmed at a city council meeting on Dec. 8 that the city will be applying for a brownfield grant that included TOYX’s leased land but that Erie Turntable would remain untouched.
TOYX Vice President Neil Finch said at the city council meeting that TOYX had no desire to leave Port Jervis and that if it had to move, it would try to stay in the area.
A number of people spoke in favor of keeping TOYX in Port Jervis during the council meeting, and TOYX President Rudy Garbely thanked the community for its support on Dec. 12.
“The last eight or nine days have shown a massive, near-unanimous outpouring of both public and industry support for TOYX’s preservation activities at the Erie Turntable site in Port Jervis,” Garbely said.
Mayor Cicalese did not respond by publication time to The Epoch Times’ request for comment.
