To the editor:

Yes, Depot Redux and volunteers from Lawrence Modern are working hard to brighten the long-neglected passenger rail depot in East Lawrence. The city deserves credit, too. The Department of Public Works assisted in the removal of the hundreds of pounds of accumulated sand that hid the original brick parking lot.

The Depot Redux board has also been working with the city as it navigates the complexities of ownership transference of the facility. The needs of all parties involved in the transaction – the city, BNSF and Amtrak – must be met in a satisfactory manner. This will take time.

Neither our group nor the city is interested in an ownership arrangement that will become a burden to the taxpayers. In addition to the waiting room and bathrooms, the facility offers beautiful office space. If the city does not claim this extra space, so convenient to City Hall, for its own use, Depot Redux will help the city plan another use. This use would need to provide a revenue stream to cover the cost of owning and maintaining the building, benefit the neighborhood, and the passengers that use the depot. The amount of surplus space in the building will be part of the final ownership transference agreement. As that is unknown at this time, it is not possible to plan for its use.

Carey Maynard-Moody,
chairwoman, Depot Redux