NEWS

Richmond Depot Finally Back on Track

After decades of vacancy and a roller coaster ride of redevelopment proposals, Richmond’s historic Pennsylvania Railroad Station is ready to thrive for the first time since the 1970s.

Pennsylvania Railroad Station, Richmond Depot

A Long Ride to Recovery

The Richmond station’s future has been uncertain since the railroad ceased operations there in 1972. The Pennsylvania Railroad commissioned the firm of famed Chicago architect Daniel Burnham to design the Richmond depot. Completed in 1902, the combined passenger station and freight depot was the marvel of its day. Known for the iconic Rookery in Chicago and Flatiron Building in New York, Burnham designed the Richmond station to make a grand impression on passengers and city residents alike. Burnham was known for detailed surface treatments, and the Pennsylvania station remains one of Indiana’s best unaltered examples of Burnham’s work.

In spite of its architectural pedigree, National Register listing, and a great deal of local support, the station – known locally as the “Depot” – remained vacant. The building earned a spot on Indiana Landmarks’ 10 Most Endangered list in 1996. We thought it was safe when a redevelopment deal seemed poised for success. However, like so many others before it, the deal evaporated and the station landed on the list again in 2005.

Indiana Landmarks joined then-councilwoman Sally Hutton and the Urban Enterprise Association to stave off demolition of the landmark. Roger Richert, a community leader and owner of the locally famous Richmond Furniture Gallery, acquired the building in 2010 and completed urgently needed repairs. Richert sold the building in July 2016 to Better Homes and Gardens First Realty, which plans to use the second story for office space. The company will use a $500,000 forgivable loan from the city’s Redevelopment Commission for repairs and renovations to turn the Depot into usable space once again.

Pennsylvania Railroad Station, Richmond Depot

This week, the Wayne County Economic Development Organization announced it will occupy 2,350 square feet in the Depot as First Realty’s first official tenant. First Realty expects to open its office by the end of May, and the EDC plans to occupy its space by June.

The plan for the depot is great news for Richmond’s historic Depot District. Anchored by its namesake landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the commercial district on Richmond’s north side houses popular local businesses including the Richmond Furniture Gallery, Little Sheba’s, Firehouse BBQ, Roscoe’s, Ullery’s Ice Cream, and more.

Read more about plans for the Depot, or contact our Eastern Regional Office, 765-478-3172, east@indianalandmarks.org.

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