Historic Virginian Railway station renovations will total $2.4 million
The historic Virginian Railway passenger station in Roanoke, Virginia is finally going to begin renovations. The railway station had been damaged by fire in 2001, and both railroad buffs and historic preservationists have been concerned about saving the station since then. It is owned by the National Railway Historical Society, which received about half a million dollars in federal funding for renovations several years ago. The problem is that the work has been delayed by federal regulations, including the need to prove that the preservation project will not harm the habitat of an endangered fish species in the Roanoke River. But after years of delays, the renovation project got the green light on September 10.
A request for bids on the first of three phases of construction went out on September 20 to secure the walls and install a temporary roof on the station to halt further deterioration of the building. The first phase will also include remediation of hazardous materials, including lead paint and asbestos abatement. Vegetation will also be removed. A contractor will be chosen in October, with work hopefully beginning in November.
Later phases of the renovation project will involve roof tiles and work on the railway station’s interior. The project is expected to cost $2.4 million when it is completed. The city has helped the historical society chapter apply for federal funding for the environmental cleanup. Additional money will come from a fundraising drive and possibly the use of historic tax credits. Once the renovations are complete, office space will be rented out to help pay for the building to stay open.
For the full story, go to The Roanoke Times.
