The Grand Junction D&RGW depot, built in 1906, was just added to the list of Colorado's most endangered places. Article with interior picture here: Historic train depot added to state endangered list | GJSentinel.com Another article with exterior picture here: Capitol dome tops list of endangered sites - The Denver Post
Bummer! I hope somebody, interested in preserving its rich history, has the funds to restore the grande old depot!
I was glad to see that the depot made the list today as I read the newspaper. I sure hope that someone is financially able and willing to restore the depot. Ben
Yes, I saw that today too and hope that somehow it can survive... :tb-sad: :tb-sad: :tb-sad: :tb-sad:
Hopefully this is good news for the old depot. Published in the GJ Sentinel on 10/25/11. Texas buyer snatches up train depot By Amy Hamilton Tuesday, October 25, 2011 Plans for Grand Junction’s historic train depot have bubbled up and burst over the years. Now, the more-than-a-century-old building that once was a jewel of Grand Junction is under new ownership. A Texas corporation, Grand Junction Railroad Inc., listed under the name Valerie Pearson, purchased the building earlier this month for $188,376. Pearson did not return several calls for comment for this story. However, Grand Junction Realtor George Dunham, who handled the sale, said the new owner plans to restore the building. “It’s not going to happen real fast,” Dunham said. “I’m not sure what they’ll use it for.” The depot’s new owner reportedly declined to accept a historical preservation grant, which would have required following some specific guidelines for preserving the building’s exterior. Dunham said Pearson had been inquiring about the building as early as last year. The depot’s selling price had been lowered substantially after being listed for $1.1 million in 2009. Later that year, the 9,250-square-foot building fell into foreclosure, but no one bid at auction on its $165,840 minimum price to purchase it from Alpine Bank. That price did not include three other mortgages that a bidder would have had to purchase. Having a buyer for the beloved building is a positive indicator, said Kathy Jordan, a member of the Friends of the Depot group. The organization has rallied for the structure to be returned to its original splendor. Jordan nominated and was successful in getting the depot on the endangered list among buildings recognized by Colorado Preservation Inc. Jordan said neither she nor other members of the Friends group has been contacted by the building’s new owner. “We’re happy it has an owner,” she said. “It’s positive. We’re hoping that this is going to be a good buyer and owner for the depot, and restore it. It’s very important to people here. They love that depot.” Built 105 years ago, the depot at 119 Pitkin Ave. awed train passengers with its arched stained-glass windows, lofty ceiling and oak benches. Aside from some furnishings, the building has since been gutted, but that hasn’t stifled interest in the structure. While several people have presented ideas for the depot, including a brew pub, a museum, a quilting museum and a project for war veterans, interested parties had been unable to come up with enough money to purchase the building. http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/texas_buyer_snatches_up_train/ Ben
Wow. What a price. Amazing what has happened to real estate in recent years. Perhaps this will help insure it stays by allowing money to be directed to restoration, instead of a sale price.
Oh to have had an extra 200K around and could have bought that myself. I sure hope the new owners can do something nice with this wonderful piece of RR history...
