The purchase moves the county forward in its vision to transform the landmark into a transit hub, once again hosting passenger trains, as well as the planned Central Corridor light rail line local and regional buses, and playing host to restaurants and shops, resurrecting the prominence the grand station once had.
To that end, Christo’s restaurant will remain open, and 39 condos in the building will remain unaffected, according to pre-existing agreements and new actions approved Tuesday. Commissioners, wearing their hats as directors of the county Regional Railroad Facility, voted 6-0 (Tony Bennett was absent) to approve the purchase, which essentially makes them landlords of the restaurant, condos and parking.
But before then, there’s plenty of work — $350,000 immediately and at least nearly $1 million more over the next two years — to be done on the 86-year-old neoclassical building.
The closing, set for Thursday, signifies the final step for the county to buy the entire Union Depot property, which stretches over Kellogg Boulevard and encompasses a number of acres. The county already is under contract to pay nearly $50 million to buy the rear of the building from the U.S. Postal Service, which is planning to move its operations into Dakota County next year.
The front portion, known as the Head House
and containing its glass-ceiling and marble three-story lobby, will need to be upgraded before it would meet safety requirements for its new purpose.
For example, for the mass transit-using public the building must be accessible for people with disabilities.
“There are serious challenges related to accessible path of travel on-site, up and into the Depot building for the anticipated change of use,” according to a due diligence report on the site.
“There are some major chunks of the sidewalks and curbs that we need to deal with,” explained Jolly Mangine, property manager for the county.
A reglazing of the skylights is among the $350,000 in immediate repairs needed, but a full replacement of the skylights and entire roof will be required as part of $431,000 in roof work estimated over the next two years. In all, $979,000 is projected in repairs needed over the next two years.
Further repair costs are likely but estimates will require further study. For example, the building likely contains asbestos and possibly lead paint, but no one’s sure how much, and heat-sensing equipment will be brought in to examine older parts of the electrical system.
Because the building is on the National Register of Historic Places, the St. Paul Heritage Preservation Commission must approve a number of the repairs and changes.
Nonetheless, the stout structure is fundamentally sound, according to the report.
“The infrastructure or ‘bones’ of the Union Depot property is in relatively impressive condition,” it states. “Considering the building age, multiple renovation efforts and attempts to repurpose the property over many decades, the property has maintained much of its historic character and solid structure.”
