Published Tuesday, May 13, 2008, by the Contra Costa Times

Benicia makes plans to restore historic depot

By Sara Stroud
MediaNews staff

BENICIA -- A downtown project that has moved in fits and starts for
more than a decade may soon take its next step forward.

At its meeting tonight, the Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commission
will consider plans for improvements to the Southern Pacific Depot on
First Street.

If approved, this phase of the project would include a parking lot,
a pathway, handicap accessibility and bicycle parking.

Rehabilitation of the depot, which was moved to Benicia in 1902
from the railroad town of Banta, began in 1994, with the securing
of $300,000 in federal funding. Environmental studies delayed
construction efforts, which began in 1999 with exterior improvements.

The depot, which once served freight and passengers traveling on
railroad ferries, became obsolete in 1930 with the construction of a
railroad bridge between Benicia and Martinez.

Benicia Main Street moved into the depot's front part in 2002 with a
10-year lease, and it uses the building for office space and a small
gift shop. The former freight area requires rehabilitation before it
can be used as a community meeting space and gallery, which is the
project's final vision, assistant planner Mike Marcus said.

"This is just the start of things," Benicia Main Street director
Nancy Martinez said.

The proposed site plan changes under review tonight likely will not
be realized for some time, city staff members said. Following plan
approval, funding must still be secured for the improvements.

Benicia Main Street's $1,800 monthly rent is supposed to be used for
depot maintenance and improvements, but in February the city granted
the group rent forgiveness to recoup losses after the annual
Waterfront Festival was canceled.

The depot fund holds more than $130,000 from past payments, city
staff members said. Martinez said she hopes that money will help
get the project started but that the group plans to apply for grant
funds. No cost estimates have been made for the proposed improvements.

In the meantime, Main Street hopes some improvements can be made to
the freight room to accommodate a Halloween haunted house.

"It's time to do something with it," Martinez said.

The parks commission also will consider tree removal guidelines for
an in-the-works tree ordinance and discuss construction phasing
options for the future Benicia Community Center at the former Mills
Elementary School.

The Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Commission meets at 6:30 p.m.
today at City Hall, 250 E. L St.