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December 24, 1999
City ontrack torenovatedepotBuildingqualifies forfederal fundingBy GUY PRIEL Journal Staff Writer NEW ULM -- The City Council began the first steps toward renovation of the old railroad depot Tuesday night when it voted unanimously to seek federal funds for the project. The depot, originally known as the Chicago & Northwestern Depot, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is in need of repairs. The council has long expressed an interest in preserving the structure. Officials with the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad, on a recent fact-finding mission, said the depot should be preserved and they had no intention of having it destroyed. DM&E is in the process of improving the rail system to accommodate a coal train running from Wyoming to the Winona shipping harbor. The building, because it is located within the property legally defined as railroad right-of-way, qualifies for federal funding under the Surface Transportation Board, City Manager Richard Salvati said. Inspections of the building have determined that it has serious deterioration, Salvati said. "It will take some substantial work to renovate the structure," he said. "There will have to be major roof repairs, and some of the timbers will have to be rebuilt." In order to obtain funding for the project, the city must be a partner with the remodeling and the maintenance. The project will be completed in phases, Salvati said. The initial request for Phase I, approved by the council on Tuesday, is for $260,000, of which $65,000 must be a local match from the city. "This is just one means of securing funds for the project," Salvati said. If the city restores it, the depot must be maintained as a transportation facility. However, it can be leased for private businesses, such as a restaurant or some type of specialty shop. It is definitely a building that is worth saving, Council President Daniel Beranek said. "I would like to make it known that we are requesting ideas for the potential use of the building," Councilor Denis Warta said. "It is worthwhile to preserve it if a good usage can be determined." At the request of Councilor Ron Fleischmann, the issue will be passed along to the Heritage Preservation Commission to get the building designated as a local landmark to help further preserve the facility. A property designated as a National Trust property can still be torn down at some future date, a locally designated property cannot. A listing on the National Register just means that federal funds cannot be used for demolition, according to information from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The council, on Tuesday, also gave their approval for the revised partnership agreement with the DM&E regarding the coal train expansion project. There were some issues remaining to be addressed, but the council was pleased with the agreement. One issue of concern is the Tower Road situation, which the city wants upgraded because of line-of-sight problems. There is a need for controlled access at that point if the city is to become whistle-free at some future time, Salvati said.
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