(rshsdepot) Petaluma, CA

[Bernie Wagenblast <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

Photo link:
http://www.nwprrhs.org/petaluma112.jpg  (1908 photo)

Move toward railroad depot lease for city

By CHIP MCAULEY, ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Petaluma will be stepping all aboard a renovation of the city's railroad
depot if all goes well. On Monday the Petaluma Community Development
Commission (PCDC), AKA the Petaluma City Council, unanimously voted to
approve a resolution to start negotiations with the Northwestern Pacific
Railroad Authority (NWPRA) to obtain a right of entry permit with options to
lease the Petaluma depot buildings. The permit could be granted by July 15.

Located on Lakeville Street between East Washington and D streets, the site
includes three buildings dating to 1914. The area is meant to be a focal
point of the Central Petaluma Specific plan which hopes to revitalize the
area.

Paul Marangella, director of economic development and redevelopment, noted
that the site could have important civic, social, and non-profit uses. He
recommended obtaining the permit with lease option. Other options were
beginning direct lease negotiations or deferring the consideration of the
depot lease.

"We thought it more prudent to work with the railroad under a short term
lease," said Marangella. The buildings could have a number of uses,
including being a hub for the SMART (Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit)
commuter train system.

At present no alternative was presented for leasing the entire six acre
site. One caveat in the approval is it will include the option for a
long-term lease for the city.

The estimated cost for the project is currently $2, 750,000. This covers
$1,900, 000 of renovation, $500,000 for parking and access, and $350,000 for
landscaping.

With a potential $2.2 million coming from Sonoma County Transit in fiscal
year 2003 from federal transportation funding, the city would only be
required to match 20 percent of the cost or $550,000. Funds earmarked for
implementation as part of the Central Petaluma Specific Plan could also come
from the redevelopment agency itself.

Councilmember Pamela Torliatt voiced her support for an equal opportunity
occupancy selection for the facilities. "I want to make sure that it's an
open process in that selection," she said, noting interest by SMART, the
Chamber of Commerce and the Visitors Bureau in the area.

Councilmember Mike Healy called it a "very exciting project for the
community," and said approving the right of entry was likely to jump-start
the implementation of the Central Petaluma Specific Plan.

(Contact Chip McAuley at cmcauley_@_argus courier.com)

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High hopes for dilapidated railroad depot

Federal funds could pay for repairs, retrofit, helping city create public
center
April 12, 2002

By TOBIAS YOUNG
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT









Petaluma's historic railroad depot, sitting in a weed-covered lot along
tracks that haven't felt the rumble of a train for months, is crumbling from
sheer neglect.


But the old depot building -- a victim of tough financial times in the
railroad business -- may be saved from the wrecking ball.


Mayor Clark Thompson calls the depot "a diamond presently in the rough" that
would be key in a plan to rejuvenate the central city area.


A plan to renovate the building for community use is picking up steam, with
the potential of a $2.2 million federal grant.


The money that would restore the depot building comes from the same federal
transportation pot that has been approved for restoring or building railroad
depots in Cotati, Windsor, Healdsburg and Cloverdale at a cost of about $2
million each.


"We've had pretty good success in recent years with these projects," said
Bryan Albee, the Sonoma County transit systems manager who applied for the
grant.


Petaluma would have to come up with another $550,000 in matching funds from
its redevelopment agency.


The depot, built in 1914, sits in the heart of an area designated for
transformation from a largely vacant warehouse district along the river into
a bustling, pedestrian-friendly center of commerce with a mix of housing,
shops and offices and a rail and bus transit hub.


Paul Marangella, city director of redevelopment, said a restored depot may
help spur investment in the district.


It would also create a space that could be used for a community conference
room holding about 200 people and potentially new offices for the Petaluma
Area Chamber of Commerce, the Petaluma Downtown Association and the Petaluma
Visitors Center.


Thompson said he supports the restoration concept and the building's
possible uses, but the City Council hasn't formally discussed the proposal
yet.


"It would be a great use," Thompson said. "It will be a destination. We'll
be wanting to bring people to that area anyway."


The alternative is allowing the depot to deteriorate or losing it to another
operator when the railroad resumes service, Marangella said.


"You don't want to lose the depot," Thompson said.


Although Albee has had success obtaining funds for the railroad depot
projects, and one was restored in 1999 in Cloverdale, he said the funds are
not assured.


"At this point in time it's just a request," Albee said.


The money would have to be approved by Congress and President Bush as part
of the federal budget.


The money would go to replace the leaking roof and restore the depot's
inside and outside. The building also needs a costly earthquake retrofit.


Part of the building was used as an office for the former railroad operators
six months ago.


Marangella said the city must act to obtain the depot while the railroad is
not in operation, or risk losing it to a new operator.


Because the land was purchased with federal money, the railroad would have
to repay the government if it sold the property outright to the city. So
Marangella is seeking a long-term lease instead.


The Northwestern Pacific Railroad Authority tentatively endorsed the concept
in January, Marangella said.


The depot would also serve as a place for commuters to wait for a passenger
train, if one is eventually developed as envisioned by the Sonoma Marin Area
Rail Transit Authority.


You can reach Staff Writer Tobias Young at 762-9498 or
tyoung_@_pressdemocrat.com.


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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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