[Date Prev][Date Next]
[Chronological]
[Thread]
[Top]
(rshsdepot) Aberdeen SD
Proposals sought for downtown depot
From staff reports
Proposals are being sought for the restoration of the historic railroad
depot northwest of the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue in
downtown Aberdeen=2E
The restoration is being handled by The Tom and Danielle Aman Foundation
for Blackstone LLC of Aberdeen, the public-private development group that
purchased the depot=2E Preliminary estimates put the cost of the restorati=
on
at $2=2E7 million=2E
A question-and-answer session for those interested in offering proposals
and for prospective tenants is expected to be scheduled for February=2E
Written proposals will be due in March at a date to be announced, accordin=
g
to a news release from the Aberdeen-based foundation=2E
To date, the vision for the restoration includes:
=95 A Native American community college satellite=2E
=95 A national Native American government leadership training academy=2E
=95 Native American news publishing=2E
=95 A national Native American art center=2E
=95 A visitor information center and retail shop=2E
=95 A community room=2E
=95 Educational and entertaining exhibits of Native American culture,
railroads and miniature railroads=2E
Blackstone LLC purchased the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St=2E Paul and
Pacific depot from Burlington NorthernSanta Fe railroad=2E The purchase
includes the depot, the attached building to the west and parking space
around these buildings=2E
BNSF offices will move from current space in the depot to the west
addition, which is also scheduled for remodeling as part of the purchase
agreement=2E The transaction also includes development of 500 private park=
ing
spaces for employees of Aman Collection Service=2E The business that Tom A=
man
helped found is scheduled to move in September to a three-story
84,000-square-foot facility under construction now at 12 S=2E Main St=2E
Blackstone has entered into a five-year lease/purchase management agreemen=
t
with the foundation, whose current plans call for ownership at the end of
the lease=2E The foundation wishes to interact with local, regional and st=
ate
schools, and arts and cultural organizations including the National Museum=
of the American Indian in Washington, D=2EC=2E, the Smithsonian Institutio=
n and
the Brown County Dacotah Prairie Museum in Aberdeen=2E The vision is to ma=
ke
the depot a destination point for area schools, youths and adults as well
as tourists, according to the news release=2E
For more information on the request for proposals, contact foundation
director Heidi Kramer, P=2EO=2E Box 38, 120 S=2E Main St=2E, Aberdeen SD 5=
7401=2E She
can be reached at (605) 226-0015=2E
=2E=A9 2001 aberdeennews and wire service sources=2E All Rights Reserved=2E=
http://www=2Eaberdeennews=2Ecom=20
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
mail2web - Check your email from the web at
http://mail2web=2Ecom/ =2E
=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org
------------------------------