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Future use of depot discussed
by Charles S. Williams
(Photo caption) Jule Hubbard/staff photo-NORTH WILKESBORO DEPOT-The former Southern Railway depot in North Wilkesboro was purchased by John Logsdon in 2002 from Norfolk Southern Railroad. One-third of the building, on the left, served as the passenger station, while the remainder of the building was the freight depot.
North Wilkesboro commissioners agreed during their monthly work session Thursday night to study ways to help with the renovation of the former Southern Railway depot.
John Logsdon, a North Wilkesboro attorney, purchased the North Wilkesboro depot in 2002 from Norfolk Southern after lengthy negotiations. He has made repairs to the structure and has done stabilization work on the property, and he told the board that he wants to continue to improve the property. He said he would consider a public/private partnership with the town so that work could progress.
Laura Blackburn, the director of Historic Downtown North Wilkesboro (HDTNW), told the commissioners grant money was available through several programs, including Main Street Solutions.
"The town would qualify as an economically distressed area, but a project would need to have a positive impact on small businesses in the town," she said. "The town would be eligible for $20,000 to $300,000, with a 50 percent match by the town."
She added, "I would like to see the town acquire and renovate the depot and renovate the depot for use as a community center or as a downtown visitors center with, perhaps, an office for HDTNW. It could be used for concerts or meetings, and we could have a museum with town and railroad memorabilia."
Logsdon explained that he would consider partnering with the town and retain ownership but wanted to know what conditions would be included in such an agreement.
"The depot has not been used since the 1970s, and the town had plenty of opportunities to approach the railroad to obtain the property," he said. "I know that the depot is as important to the town as the speedway is to the county.
"A lot of people have approached me with ideas but they seemed to have a sense of entitlement. I'm the one who got the building out of the hands of the railroad, and it took me four years to do that. I've put a lot of money into that building. I've built up a lot of sweat equity, and I would like to continue with this project. That's why I would prefer a public/private partnership. The idea of $300,000 sounds good, but I would like to know what I would be giving up."
Logsdon said he would not be in favor of a museum, noting, "the people here were told that the Wilkes Heritage Museum would attract 50,000 people a year, and the reality is nothing near that. It would be a waste of money to fix a building that wouldn't be used."
He said that he had hoped to attract another investor "and eventually develop the building into a venue for music and then use a restaurant to help attract people. I would like to have the money to finish it."
Mayor Robert Johnson said he would like to study the feasibility of having rail excursions from Rural Hall (at the opposite end of the Yadkin Valley Railway line where the line connects with the Norfolk Southern mainline) to North Wilkesboro with support from area vineyards. The track is owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation and leased to Yadkin Valley Railroad.
Commissioner Bert Hall said, "I think we need to support John 100 percent."
Fellow board member Debbie Ferguson told Logsdon, "if you hadn't done what you did (in acquiring the building), an important building might have been destroyed. It would be to everyone's advantage if we could help."
Logsdon said he hoped to have a phased development of the 7,000-square-foot building. The western third of the building was the passenger station while the remainder was the freight depot. He added that the depot was now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Logsdon concluded by saying, "I would be interested in working with the town in a partnership but I would not rule out selling it. If I don't own it, I want the town to own it." |
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