THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 12, 1995 TAG: 9501120400
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SUSIE STOUGHTON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
In distress, a local preservationist group sent out an SOS last year, asking CSX Corp. not to demolish the abandoned train station on North Main Street.
Railroad officials came back this week with a deal that elated members of S.O.S. - Save Our Station.
The group formed soon after a November fire swept the building and made many fear the company would raze the historic structure.
CSX has agreed to transfer the property for an undisclosed sum to the Downtown Suffolk Association, a group that has been trying to get it for at least a year, association leaders said Wednesday.
``Everything looks very good right now,'' association director Bob Chisom said.
Nothing has been decided about who should own the property - the Downtown Suffolk Association, the city or a private agency such as the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society - or what its eventual use would be, Chisom said.
``We all have the same goal: to restore the building and reuse it in another capacity,'' he said.
Chisom spearheaded the S.O.S. effort last year, hoping the fire would rekindle efforts to save the building, the first of many dilapidated structures the group has targeted.
``We're progressing beautifully,'' said Betsy Brothers, president of the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society and a member of S.O.S.
But much work still needs to be done, she said.
S.O.S. is seeking city and community support for plans to buy and renovate the building, although no final cost estimates have been received.
The downtown association plans to apply for a $400,000 federal grant that would help with renovation, Chisom said.
The federal Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 provides funds distributed by the Virginia Department of Transportation for transportation-related projects.
The deadline for the grant application is Jan. 31, but association leaders hope to hand-deliver the paperwork to Richmond earlier to ensure getting it in on time.
And they need more than 200 letters from citizens to include in the packet.
Letters may be mailed or delivered to S.O.S., in care of DSA, 201 N. Main St., Suite B, Suffolk, Va. 23434 or dropped off at Central Fidelity or Crestar banks.
Letters should be submitted by Jan. 23, Chisom said.
S.O.S. members said they will appear at a public hearing at next Wednesday's City Council meeting to ask for the city's support.
The locality would be required to match 20 percent of the grant in funds or in-kind services.
``I feel confident,'' Chisom said, ``if everything goes well and we get City Council approval, we will be able to meet our deadline.'' by CNB