March 28, 2024

STEP INSIDE

City council approves plans for interior restoration of train depot

Things are chugging right along with plans for Osceola’s historic train depot.

During a Sept. 1 Osceola City Council meeting, a public hearing was held on the depot project’s interior restoration and transformation into a welcome center.

However, there were some concerns from the public on the future of the inside of train depot.

“I think this is an opportunity that you have now to take that building and make it city hall,” said Dr. Jim Kimball, an Osceola resident.

Dr. Kimball showed how various offices could be used at the depot.

“The thing is visible. It’s on Main Street. It’s there,” he said. “You’re going to spend a lot of money to renovate it. Why don’t you do something with it that will be useful?”

An answer to Kimball’s question would come later in the meeting. But first, a layout of the potential interior of the train depot was on display to the council.

What’s inside?

Ty Wheeler, city clerk/administrator, pointed out the depot waiting area on the south side of the depot will continue to be the passenger waiting area for Amtrak patrons. The partition that used to be in place is gone. All of the flooring, coating, lighting, walls and more will be restored to a historically-accurate finished product.

Moving to the west of building, the ticket office, which is historical, will be restored with maintaining the cage windows, cabinetry and original elements of the building.

On the south side of the area, there is office space, which is empty, and will be restored. Plans require the Amtrak caretaker’s space to be available.

Wheeler discussed more office/administrative space that will be available in the building. There has been discussion of Osceola Chamber Main Street operating out of the depot building.

On the west end of the building, there is a big space for storage, and it hasn’t been maintained as such. This area will most likely see the greatest transformation.

Wheeler addressed the issue about why Osceola Chamber Main Street could possibly go in the building and not city hall.

“The Vision Iowa Board was negative to that idea. They’ve been pretty sensitive to how the building will be used,” he said. “ … This was presented and approved through the Vision Iowa Board as a welcome center, with the understanding that it will be operating as a passenger depot for Amtrak.”

Two parts

Outside the train depot, people will notice the parking lot project has just been completed. The interior of the depot is only one part of the project. The parking lot is the second half.

Here is how the cost of the project breaks down:

• Parking lot: $442,417

• Interior: $600,000 to $700,000

• Engineering/design: $262,301

Wheeler said the funding streams are not dedicated to any one specific element of the project. The grant dollars can be claimed as eligible costs are incurred. Those “eligible costs” include design and construction fees.

The city council approved the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the depot interior restoration project. The council also approved proceeding with bidding for the project.

Finally, the council approved advising Friends of the Depot group and other historic committees to begin develop the specifics on how the welcome center will operate, be designed and what will be included in it.

“I’d like to make sure we have everything filled up and know what’s going on,” said Councilman Dave Walkup.