(rshsdepot) Southern Pines, NC

[jdent1_@_optonline.net]

Contract Awarded On Depot =

BY SARA LINDAU=3A Staff Writer

By this time next year=2C the old Southern Pines train station should be =
transformed from an eyesore to an asset for the downtown=2E

Its first makeover since 1948 will get under way sometime after Memorial =
Day=2E The N=2EC=2E Board of Transportation awarded a =24699=2C000 constr=
uction contract to Carolina Construction Inc=2E of Cheraw=2C S=2EC=2E=2C =
on Thursday=2E

The historic train station and the brick freight depot along the tracks t=
hat divide Broad Street for the length of the downtown business district =
will soon be revitalized and renovated=2E

David White=2C buildings and grounds and parks and recreation director fo=
r the town=2C is not wasting any time in trying to recruit interested bus=
inesses to rent or lease space in either building once the work is done=2E=
 The properties could be ready for occupancy by the end of the year=2E

The contract calls for completion of the project at the passenger station=
 in about six months=2C White said=2E Work will begin shortly after May 3=
1=2E

Congress had appropriated =24800=2C000 for this work=2C but it took four =
years for Southern Pines to nudge bureaucrats and railroad company offici=
als to complete the necessary property transfers that allowed the money t=
o be allocated for the project=2E

The long-pending paperwork and bureaucratic red tape finally ended this s=
pring=2C and the town gained title to the properties=2E

Eventually=2C as a condition of receiving the grant=2C the town will have=
 to agree to close rail crossings somewhere within the city limits=2E

Southern Pines is also applying to the N=2EC=2E Department of Transportat=
ion for a =24120=2C000 grant to renovate the old freight depot=2C a brick=
 structure farther down the track at Connecticut Avenue and Broad Street=2E=


=93We would prefer that the businesses that might want to rent the struct=
ures be those that would benefit from the strategic=2C central location d=
owntown and=2C in turn=2C attract their clients to the downtown area of S=
outhern Pines=2C=94 Mayor Frank Quis said Wednesday=2E =93We aren=92t doi=
ng this to make money=2C but to obtain enough revenue from rentals of the=
 property to maintain and repair them without using Southern Pines taxpay=
ers=92 money=2E

=93Because of its strategic location downtown=2C the passenger station in=
 the 200 block of North West Broad will be a building you notice no matte=
r which direction you come into town from=2E=94

Southern Pines leaders would rather see a higher-profile business that at=
tracts people rather than a single-person office that has few or no visit=
ors=2C Quis said=2E

=93The parking lot will be repaved and more easily accessible=2C and with=
 the extensive renovation it will be one of the most attractive buildings=
 in the downtown area=2C=94 Quis said=2E =93The renovations to be made wi=
ll follow the historic standards of 1948=2C when the station underwent it=
s last major renovation=2E=94

The original passenger train station was built in the late 19th Century=2C=
 about the time of the town=92s founding by John Patrick=2E The appearanc=
e of the building has changed dramatically=2C according to White=2E

Amtrak Silverstar trains will continue to stop at the depot on their regu=
lar route between New York and Florida=2E

The passenger station will have two separate areas of about 750 square fe=
et each for lease when the renovations are finished=2E Plans call for rep=
lacing the roof and canopy=2C and refurbishing the outdoor platform=2E

Inside=2C the renovations will =93bring the historic station up to today=92=
s standards but resemble its character from the last major renovation aro=
und 1948=2C=94 White said=2E

These two areas can be under a single lease=2C which will then provide th=
e tenant with 1=2C500 square feet of usable space=2C White said=2E

The smaller brick freight depot will also undergo exterior repairs and re=
furbishing=2C he said=2E Part of the depot will continue to be available =
for temporary use by CSX employees=2E

Plans for the freight depot show about 2=2C000 square feet of interior sp=
ace and an additional 1=2C000 square feet of covered outdoor platform spa=
ce available for lease=2E

http=3A//www=2Ethepilot=2Ecom/news/050704Depot=2Ehtml

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

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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #906
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=================================
The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org