Depot project to cost $1.5M, Renovation will be part of plans for scenic railroad

Depot project to cost $1.5M,
Renovation will be part of plans for scenic railroad

Author: LEE COLEMAN, Gazette Reporter
Date: November 22, 2006
Section: B: Local

The renovation of the Corinth train depot built in 1911 on Hamilton Avenue will cost an estimated $1.5 million, according to a project engineer. This cost includes site improvements for parking and grading, according to Donald Adams of Creighton-Manning Engineering of Albany.

The town of Corinth purchased the old, deteriorated train station using part of a $2.1 million federal grant that also allowed the town to acquire 16 miles of railroad track from just outside Saratoga Springs north to the border between Saratoga County and Warren County.

The grant included $100,000 for the engineering and feasibility study on the old train depot. This paid for the services of Creighton-Manning and the Albany-based architectural firm of Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker Architects.

Adams led a meeting Nov. 13 in the new Corinth Fire House to finalize the design for the eventual renovation of the train station.

The small train depot would be used as a stop on the Upper Hudson Railroad, which is expected to run from Saratoga Springs to North Creek in Warren County by next fall.

The railroad currently runs scenic train rides between Thurman and North Creek during the spring, summer and early fall.

"It's a very small and simple building," said architect Eric Gradoia of Mesick, Cohen, Wilson, Baker Architects.

He said at the Nov. 13 meeting that the cast concrete walls of the building are in decent condition, but the wooden upper structure, including the roof and some of the upper structural beams, need replacing.

"Some measure of intervention needs to be done soon or renovation is questionable," Gradoia said.

The first order of business, then, is to secure the currently open building and roof at an estimated cost of $10,000.

Adams said public input has been overwhelmingly in favor of restoring the historic train depot.

Town Supervisor Richard Lucia said this week that the town is seeking a price for the intervention work, hopefully done by a local contractor.

"It needs to be done soon," Lucia said last week.

"We are trying to find the best price," he said, adding that Town Board member John Major is coordinating the search for a contractor to close up and secure the depot.

Lucia said the town has posted the property to warn people that the area is off limits to the public.

Adams said the next step is to finalize the design report and submit it to the state Department of Transportation and federal government for grant money.

Funding on such restoration projects generally includes an 80 percent federal or state grant and 20 percent local money or in-kind services.