Trinity Industries Inc. has bought back the former site of its north plant in Greenville from Commerce Park of Greenville Inc.

Trinity felt owning the property of their former rail car site is the best way for them to proceed with cleaning up the area as they’re required by the state, said Trinity spokesman David Margulies of Margulies Communications Group, Dallas, where Trinity’s headquarters are located.

“It’s always been Trinity’s intention to fulfill its obligation to the state,” Margulies said Monday.

Greenville Mayor Richard H. Miller, who has been frustrated with the slow-moving cleanup of the 34-acre site in the middle of town, said he was surprised to hear the news but it’s encouraging for potential developers interested in the property.

“It sounds like good news,” Miller said.

Greenville attorney Daniel P. Wallace was also pleasantly surprised to learn of the sale. Wallace heads a committee of citizens called Task Force Trinity North concerned about the cleanup and development of the site.

“I hope this will move things along,” Wallace said.

Commerce Park bought the land at 60 Union St. from Trinity in 2004 with plans to prepare the property for future development. The deal with Commerce Park was a friendly one, he said, declining to disclose the purchase amount.

“Everyone realized that Greenville would benefit when the property is available for redevelopment and moved forward in good faith to keep the process moving,” Margulies said.

William E. Marsteller, the park’s president, and Dean Gearhart, one of the park’s directors, wouldn’t comment Monday on the sale.

Trinity is in the process of investigating the property to determine how to proceed with the cleanup. Trinity has no plans to develop on the property but would like people with ideas for future land use to come forward, Margulies said.

Having the land back in Trinity’s hands for now takes care of any issues involving the company’s access to the land, which had been a problem, he said, in an ongoing lawsuit the company filed against Commerce Park and Marsteller over cleaning up hazardous materials on the property.

The lawsuit has been settled as part of the new purchase agreement, Margulies said, declining to release further details.

Trinity in early 2006 was charged by the state Attorney General’s office with illegally dumping hazardous waste at the site when the plan t was building railcars. A plea agreement was reached in December 2006 ordering Trinity to clean up the site and pay fines and costs.

Trinity’s lawsuit claimed that the park and Marsteller dumped hazardous materials during their demolition of structures on the property, which Marsteller and the park denied.