(rshsdepot) Congers, NY

["Bernie Wagenblast" <brwagenblast_@_comcast.net>]

From The Journal News.

Bernie Wagenblast
Transportation Communications Newsletter
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transport-communications


Work on Congers train station begins
By JENNIFER WEIL
THE JOURNAL NEWS
(Original publication: October 4, 2004)

CONGERS - For the past three years when looking out the window, Jaime 
Bugarin has seen untamed brush and a chain-link fence surrounding the 
abandoned Congers train station.

"It really brings the place down," the father of two said last week. "It's 
not a good sight."

Possibly by next fall, Bugarin will see a much more pleasant sight. Two 
weeks ago, Clarkstown began a restoration of the former train station to 
return it to its turn-of-the-20th-century glory. A passive park is also 
planned for part of the 3-acre property near the corner of Lake Road and 
Burnside Avenue.

So far, the town has demolished a greenhouse and garden center that had been 
attached to the station, said Charles Connington, superintendent of parks 
and recreation.

The town also plans to restore the interior of the station and turn it into 
meeting rooms. The first-floor meeting room will hold about 20 to 25 people 
while the second-floor room will accommodate 10 to 15. The building will 
have handicapped-accessible bathrooms.

Next to the station will be a passive park with a garden, water fountain and 
benches.

"We might do some concerts there, too," Connington said.

There also will be a small parking lot for cars.

With the revitalization of downtown Congers, Connington said the station's 
restoration "will really tie the hamlet together."

Councilman Ralph Mandia agreed.

"We want to try and restore some of the hamlet's antiquity, give the hamlet 
some character and make it into something people will like and enjoy," he 
said.

The train station was built in 1890, and passengers could travel from 
Congers to Jersey City, N.J. Service on what became known as the West Shore 
railroad was discontinued in 1959.

The town bought the property about three years ago for $910,000. The 
restoration project will cost the town $3 million, which will be funded 
through bonds, Connington said.



Reach Jennifer Weil at jweil_@_thejournalnews.com or 845-578-2426.Reach 
Jennifer Weil at jweil_@_thejournalnews.com or 845-578-2426.

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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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