Long Vacant Milford Gas Station May Become New Auto Business

MILFORD, MA — A long-vacant former gas station at a busy intersection in Milford may soon return to life with a new vehicle-focused business, according to town records.

Geara Realty Inc. has applied for a special permit to open a vehicle repair business at 108 East Main St., the site of the former Gibbs gas station. The new business would focus on auto glass repair, according to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Gibbs parcel at the corner of Route 85 has been vacant for more than a decade, partly due to a large diesel spill that happened at the site in 2008. Between April and July 2008, a damaged underground diesel tank leaked about 15,000 gallons of fuel. The former owner of the station was fined $200,000 by the attorney general in 2011 for failing to report the leak.

Representatives from Hopedale-based Geara Realty are set to appear at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Wednesday for a determination on the special permit request. Geara is also the owner of the Ray's Automotive center along West Street, according to town property records.