Historic Train Station Restoration
Planning Meeting
January 31, 2012
Windsor Locks Town Hall
Minutes
1. Background
a. Discussions
with Amtrak – Steve Wawruck and Patrick McMahon attended an Amtrak-sponsored
conference in Burlington VT regarding historic train stations. There has been weekly correspondence
with Government Affairs staff at Amtrak since. Town is seeking temporary access to the building to do
appropriate studies with a goal toward acquiring the property. Amtrak appears to be amenable to the
Town acquiring the property.
Waiting on letter from Amtrak with some requirements.
b. STEAP
grant – Patrick submitted semi-annual report to DEEP outlining the recent
progress with Amtrak. Dave Stygar
from DEEP contact WLPA regarding dissolution documents. Town has $220,000 remaining which can
be used for planning purposes (architectural design, structural design, survey,
environmental), stabilization work and fencing. Patrick hopes to draft an RFP in the coming weeks for design
services.
c. Relocation
of Train Platform – The environmental review for the NH-Springfield line has
been submitted to the Federal Rail Administration. A public hearing on the relocation probably will not happen
for another couple of months. DOT
Commissioner Redeker has commented twice at public meetings about Windsor
Locks’ efforts to relocate the station back downtown.
d. TOD
Planning Grant – Town awarded a $250,000 Transit Oriented Development Grant to
study the area around the historic station for mixed-use development –
residential, office and retail.
Meeting occurred last week regarding the scope of the study with DOT
staff. Discussion of Bass Property
and possibility of parking deck as part of project.
e. Montgomery
Mill Foreclosure – Developer declared bankruptcy and the Town is trying to
protect its interest in the tax dollars due the community. No timeframe available regarding when
the bankruptcy will be resolved.
2. Organization
a. Steering
Committee – Looking for people who are passionate about the historic train
station and the revitalization of Main Street.
b. Economic
and Industrial Development Commission – the responsible commission for the
STEAP and TOD grants. Steering
Committee will help inform the EIDC which in turn will make appropriate
recommendations to the Board of Selectmen.
c. Meeting
dates and times – Future meetings will take place on the second and fourth
Tuesdays of the month at 7 p.m.
Due to Valentine’s Day, the next meeting will be Monday, February 13th
at 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 2nd Floor Break Room. Meeting agendas and minutes will be
posted at Town Hall.
3. Capital
Campaign
a. Campaign
Goal – Committee chose initial goal of $250,000 that would hopefully be matched
by State or Federal grant sources for a total of $500,000 to work with. State Historic Preservation Office has
$200,000 matching grant program with application due in October. Parties can send donation checks to
Town Hall with Historic Train Station Restoration Project written in the memo
section. A separate account
designated solely for use on the station restoration has been established. We discussed the possibility of opening
up a PayPal account to help secure donations or purchase of station novelty
items. Discussion on what logo to
use for the project took place.
b. Silent
phase – Looking for the top 50 prospects of individuals, families,
organizations or businesses who are likely to donate larger sums toward the
effort. These parties will be
approached individually.
c. Public
Phase – After a silent phase has been completed, then a focus will shift to
donations from the general public.
d. Fundraising
Events – Events can be time-consuming but also very productive. Committee needs to look at what time of
events will be most beneficial.
Kevin Brace reported a Tip-a-Cop evening is being planned for Ruby
Tuesdays with the proceeds going to the station project.
e. Items
for sale (t-shirts, mugs, note cards, magnets, etc.), T&S Embroidery has
the designs from the WLPA novelties that they sold.
f. Apply
for Certified Local Government Status – possible grant source
g. Apply
for Preserve America Status – possible grant source
h. Other
grants – asked attendees to do websearch for grants that might help with the
project. Apply to Hartford
Foundation for Public Giving.
i. Fundraising
Sign – Carl Philbrick to look into get a sign(s) made that will show progress
toward the fundraising goal.
j. Buy
a Brick – Kevin Brace to look into such a program
4. Potential
Uses
Attendees were asked to think of
potential uses of the train station which could include warming area/restrooms
for Train Platform, Home to WL Chamber/Visitor’s Center, Ella Grasso Museum, Gift
shop, Rapids Exhibit Center/Fish and Wildlife
5. Initial
Steps
a. Website
development – Denise Brown helping to establish a new website.
b. Install
National Register Plaque on the building – available from the State Historic
Preservation Office
c. Volunteer
database – Any people interested in the project can send their contact info to
wleidc@sbcglobal.net
d. Photos
and videos of the historic station/Main Street/Ella Grasso – Attendees asked to
gather as much collateral material about the station as possible
e. Jim
Roche to get dimensions on boarded up windows and develop banners to go over
them (WMG)
f. Search
e-bay and other sources for historical materials
g. Search
Flikr and other photo sources
h. Web
search of available rail-related resources
ii. www.railroad.net
iii. www.railroaddata.com
i. Review
Great American Stations website for resources
j. Plan
events to raise profile of the area (take the train into work day)
k. Get
people to the Windsor Locks Canal State Park Trail
l. Main
Street clean-up in the spring
m. Get
people connected to the New Haven –Springfield DOT newsletters and Twitter feed
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