Re: (rshsdepot) Great American Station Foundation Names Most Endangered Stations

[Blue Moon Network Administrator <root_@_net.bluemoon.net>]

On Thu, 7 Mar 2002, Jim Dent wrote:

> >From the GASF...
> 
> Great American Station Foundation Names Most Endangered Stations

8<---

>  Orlando, FL
> 
> Owned by CSX, the Orlando depot is an active Amtrak station that also houses
> commuter rail, bus, rental cars, and other intermodal services.   Designed
> by architect M.A. Griffith, the Orlando depot is the sole Spanish Mission
> style station in Florida.  It was built in 1926 by the Atlantic Coast Line
> Railroad to increase and encourage tourism in the area.  Today the station
> is one of Amtrak’s most popular destinations, serving over 275,000
> passengers each year.
> 
> While not facing any real threat of destruction, the busy station is rundown
> and in need of major renovation.  Local community leaders envision a
> renovated station as a thriving transportation center, better serving rail
> passengers and adding connections to thruway buses, shuttle services, and
> connections to cruise ports.  The revitalized station would add retail and
> other mixed uses of the station, creating a bustling transportation center
> that will spur economic growth in the station area.
> 
> Keep Orlando Beautiful, Inc. will use the $1000 award to begin development
> of a master plan for the station, and to create public support for the
> project.

- --->8

I think it's great to spotlight stations which need work and to promote the
cause, but it seems like that this program has either lost its focus, changed
its mission or is now horribly misnamed.

I have a problem with Orlando (and occasional others here and there) being
named to this list when there is no apparent threat of demolition. Orlando is
obviously not endangered, but somewhat neglected.

Doesn't listing stations such as the Orlando building under the heading of
'Most Endangered' make it hard from some people to take the program seriously?

Could having a station such as Orlando on this 'Most Endangered' list harm
other preservation efforts which are facing the imminent destruction of their
beloved stations and historical buildings because 'Most Endangered' no longer 
implies any urgency or action? To me the most endangered are the ones which
could be gone in the very near future and need saving NOW.

I don't know the politics involved or if there are agendas being served here,
but aren't there quite a few stations across the country which are 
historically signifigant buildings on the verge of demolition which could be
rescued from oblivion?

I don't want to rain on the GASF's parade, but it just doesn't sit right with
me under the current heading.

Tecate and Roanoake stations seem to fit the bill a little better, Richmond
and Painesville appear to be in somewhat more stable situations for the
moment and not in danger of seeing any wrecking balls over the next few years.
I'm not sure that using Tecate's $1000 "to establish a bi-national heritage
corridor that would include the Tecate station" is a great focus for station
money either.

I think it's great that they're all getting preservation money, I just don't
like the pretense, I think it should be renamed to preserve its integrity.

I'm sure this will invite some flames for not being politically correct or
some other present day BS concept, but I feel that the current naming is
little more than a falsehood.

Henry

J. Henry Priebe Jr.       Blue Moon President & Network Administrator
root_@_bluemoon.net         www.bluemoon.net - Blue Moon Internet Corp
V.90, X2 & K56flex        www.railfan.net  - The Railfan Network


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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org

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