Santa Fe Depot grant fails

City commissioners will keep looking for grant money to restore the Santa Fe Depot building in east Lawrence, after learning recently that the project failed to win a federal transportation enhancement grant.

The city had been seeking about $600,000 in grant money that would clear the way for the city to take over ownership of the depot at Seventh and New Jersey streets and make necessary repairs.

At their meeting Tuesday evening, commissioners said they did not want to take over ownership of the building without having grant money in hand. Instead, commissioners directed staff members to discuss with Burlington Northern Santa Fe officials a way for the city to agree to take over ownership of the depot contingent upon receiving a future grant.