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(rshsdepot) Claremont, CA
From the San Bernardino County Sun.
Bernie Wagenblast
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Claremont aims to rejuvenate depot
Will Bigham, Staff Writer
San Bernardino County Sun
CLAREMONT - The historic Claremont Depot is on the verge of a makeover, with
city officials working on plans to add a cafe and bicycle shop to the
landmark.
Officials envision the Depot, which currently houses a Metrolink information
office, as a regular stopping point for people who use the regional rail
service for their daily commute.
"It's definitely geared toward train users," Councilman Sam Pedroza said.
"We want to make sure that any of the needs they have, like newspapers and
coffee, are met. And also, officials want to encourage the use of bicycles as a
means of transportation."
The Depot, a Spanish-style building on First Street, was constructed in 1926
to replace the 1880s-era depot that was once nearby.
The original building was the first structure in Claremont when it was built
by the railroad company in hopes of attracting new residents, said Ginger
Elliott, executive director of Claremont Heritage.
"It's the founding member of Claremont, if you will," she said. "The Santa
Fe railroad - if it hadn't come through these foothill cities, there wouldn't
be any cities here. And it's one of the most beautiful buildings in downtown
Claremont."
The building, abandoned in the 1960s, was purchased and restored by the city
in the early 1990s when Metrolink service began there.
The former baggage and freight storage areas were left vacant after the
restoration, and officials hope to fill those empty spaces with new
transit-oriented businesses.
Another goal would be to get commuters who drive to the station to ride
bikes.
"In part, it would be to try to encourage more people to bike to use
transit," said Brian Desatnik, the city's housing and redevelopment manager. "It's
not real easy to do right now. There's some bike lockers over in the parking
lot, but this would make it a more fun experience.
"You'd go into a nice little building, get a cup of coffee before you get on
the train, and maybe buy some magazines or newspapers before getting onto the
train."
Desatnik said the city has been negotiating with restaurateur Alain Girard
about the proposed cafe.
"The cafe, it's going to be a food place, too, where you can go get
breakfast or get some lunch there," Desatnik said. "It's not going to be a full-scale
kitchen operation. It will be smaller."
Girard has opened several successful restaurants in the Inland Empire,
including Viva Madrid and Harvard Square Cafe in Claremont, Second Street Bistro
in Pomona and Cafe Allegro in La Verne.
"I have been approached by the city," Girard said. "I have given them a
proposal, but that's as far as it goes. I have not agreed on anything yet."
The bicycle shop would include storage areas for bikes as well as repair
services, Desatnik said.
"It's a priority for me because we saw so much success out of the Packing
House, where we were able to reuse a structure to meet a current need," Pedroza
said. "I think we could have the same kind of success with the Depot."
Desatnik said plans for the Depot are scheduled to be considered by the City
Council in early fall.
Staff writer Will Bigham can be reached by e-mail at
_will.bigham_@_dailybulletin.com_ (mailto:will.bigham@dailybulletin.com) , or by phone at (909)
483-8553.
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End of RSHSDepot Digest V1 #1596
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The Railroad Station Historical Society maintains a database of existing
railroad structures at: http://www.rrshs.org