ORANGE — The town now owns the 1.06 acres at 16-36 West River St., the former site of an old cereal factory that three juveniles destroyed by arson three years ago.

A Massachusetts Land Court decision recently transferred the lot’s ownership from KARMACAN LLC to Orange. Environmental site assessments will check for any further contamination.

“It’s good to be done,” Town Administrator Matthew Fortier said about the legal process. The town can now sell or develop the parcel.

Barring any findings of contamination, Fortier said, town officials will proceed with discussions regarding reuse, and he hopes a decision about the future of the property will be made no later than the 2026 Annual Town Meeting. He said fencing is expected to be installed around the site soon.

Police Chief James Sullivan previously said the former cereal factory was built in 1890 and spanned 59,394 square feet — 19,798 square feet on each of its three floors.

In March 2022, the town was forced to close the portion of West River Street from South Main to Pleasant streets, as the former factory building was reportedly in imminent danger of structural failure. Orange was pursuing an emergency court order to tear down the building and had accepted a bid from Bourgeois Wrecking & Excavation of Westminster when the building was reduced to piles of asbestos and brick on June 4, 2022. The names of the three arson suspects — who ranged in age from 12 to 14 years old at the time — have not been released by authorities due to their age. The three faced criminal charges in connection with the incident.

At least 20 fire departments responded to the blaze. It poured embers into the air, with some landing on the vacant former blacksmith shop near 24 East River St. and causing such severe damage that it had to be demolished. The vacant buildings at 58 and 50 South Main St. also sustained damage.

American Environmental Inc. was contracted for $1.6 million to remove the debris. Fortier said he expects cleanup efforts will have cost about $3.2 million when all is said and done. He previously said the state has earmarked $3.4 million, but the town had already used $392,589 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds before receiving that money.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.