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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06/02/1998, 1 - RAILROAD DISTRICT PLAN • J P&CI _ _ _.ter..- .. 2034 Santa Barbara Ayenue Post Office Box,192, . San Lws�Obispo, CA 934 .--6-i 2; B_ Phone (805);543.21916_ Fax: (805)543-1048 Einail,IPHDIC�aol:com' , 2 June:98 To? Pity-Council: :City-of San LW67Obispo From: Anthony Malls General Manager` Pacific Home III& Center: Re Railroad Distrix Plan - ' - - - - On behaffof the owner3�oVP_ac�caHome'DoAt�Center•-il wouldilike to go on record concerning this.project _. - It appears that "part of the Ipfo�eet includes an old Southern Pacific Milling Warehouse located on our iproperty= We want to insure that:this.structure is.NOT included in"the rezoning or any,of the,planning,iphases off,'the. Railroad District Plan: This stnict eb is`81--safety hazard We have °had the building inspected by structural an who'find it"unsafe and too costly to refurbish: We have had a full termite inspection which:proved infestation,throughout"The fire department _ did a.visual inspeclJon,and Ihave tleemed it afire hailed. F-1 he:reasons fated.above .we�do7-.want this building Included in the Railroad D'iatrict.Plan: - - IPlease contact`me if you lhave anyfurtfier questions. Sincerely;; a " "thony_, q PROJECT FOR THE HYSTORYC' RAYLROAO OYSTRYCT IVIASTEFtPLAN AND - SAN LUYS OBYSPO -jr CENTER - J PRESENTED TO THE CYTY OF SAN L—UYS OBgS,PO - C O U N C Y L f DODIE WILLIAMS ALLEN SETTLE DAVE ROMERO BILL ROALMAN KATHY SMITH A • • • MEETI G AGENDA DATE ITEM # MEETING AGENDA DATE � % ITEM # 1 � - Retain this document for APRIL 1998 future Council meetipg Date,11 agerd•.zed TP SANLUIMUSE MORAILROAO R E S E RAILROAD O= STR=CTHIN THE E (A PLAN FOR THE MASTERPLAN) The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, founded as a non-profit public benefit educational museum, will preserve the railroad history of San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast , through preservation, restoration and operation of historic railroad equipment in the historic San Luis Obispo Railroad District . The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum (also known as SLORRM) j is a division of the non-profit Avila Valley Railway Museum. As such, SLORRM can accept tax deductible donations of historic artifacts . All members of the museum are volunteers. The City of San Luis Obispo appreciates the history of railroading as shown by the preservation of the Southern Pacific Railroad Passenger Station and the old Steam Locomotive Water Tank. Soon, the City Council will decide on adoption of a Railroad District Masterplan. SLORRM asks to be included in this plan. The plan includes all of the railroad yard and a Multi-Modal Transportation Center. This facility would be located on a parcel of land which will soon be purchased by the City of San Luis Obispo. Upon that parcel exist the historic Southern Pacific Freight Warehouse, built in 1893. The Transit Center will have bus and taxi pick up areas along with a large I parking area for patrons of the nearby railroad passenger trains. It is the intent of SLORRM to assist in the restoration of i the Freight Warehouse and construct railroad track on non-vital lareas of the transportation facility. SLORRM also intends to construct this track from the facility onto adjacent private iproperty and an unpaved, dead ended city street. This track would be used for the display and operation of historic railroad locomotives and cars. This can be accomplished without j tation facility as it would---be- disruption to the transpor - located in areas not used by cars or buses and would be operated primarily on holidays and weekends when the facility is of minimal use. The track would start at a location across from the north end of the Freight Warehouse, next to the present property line fence (parallel to Santa Barbara St . ) . It would proceed south onto Union Pacific Railroad property and then follow an abandoned railroad right of way onto undeveloped Emily St. The use of the railroad property would require a donation or lease of land from Union Pacific R.R. The museum would ask the city to allow it to use a portion of Emily St. Presently, that street, from Roundhouse St. north, is unpaved, dead ends at the railroad right of way and is of little use to the city. Upon this northern end of Emily St. , several spur tracks would be placed. These would be used for display of the railroad equipment and contain work areas for restoration purposes. A little known city historical fact : presently located on this undeveloped dirt covered city street, is approximately 150 feet of railroad track that is owned by the City of San Luis Obispo. Yes, the city owns a railroad, albeit a very short one. Phase I of the SLORRM plans involves working with the city in the planning for and restoration of the historic Freight Warehouse. The museum is able to provide volunteer labor and donated materials . Both of these aspects would greatly enhance grant applications for this historic restoration project since they indicate a high degree of community support. Also included in this phase is the construction of railroad track at the Freight Warehouse and Emily St. areas. Phase II would be the extension of track onto Union Pacific R.R. property to connect with their team spur track. This connection to the railroad would be a tremendous asset for any museum since it allows the direct movement of historic railroad cars and locomotives to the museum. Thus saving the museum many thousands of dollars in truck and crane delivery work. Another display track would be constructed south along the railroad right of way parallel to Emily St. Phase III of the project would be an extension of this southward track to the former railroad Roundhouse site. Here numerous rail cars and locomotives could be displayed on the actual tracks that were inside the Roundhouse. When the Roundhouse was demolished, several of the tracks were left in place along with inspection pits between the rails and the Roundhouse concrete and brick foundation. This project will not only educate and entertain our local citizens and their children, it will attract tourist A substantial museum of this type would certainly benefit our local economy by keeping tourists within the city long enough to for them to spend money on food, gas , lodging and the city taxes on these items. It has been said many times that the railroad area is a "Gateway* to the city. Now, during the Masterplanning for this gateway area, we ask that the plans of the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum be included. Other than the Mission, the railroad is the largest and most significant element in the historical development of the city. It makes sense to recognize this fact and benefit from it . San Luis Obispo is truly a railroad town! a •� Y J CST` - _ *f Coast ai News from the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum e 1, Number 1 San Luis Obispo, California, March 1998 © SLORRM Id. Freight Building to be Railroad Museum n't this a headline that you would -' f to see on the front page of the San Obispo County Telegram Tnbune, e New Tunes,or as the lead story BY-TV news? It can happen. d on. j e City of San Luis Obispo is pur- jry , sing the property at the Railroad on which includes' the 1893 ;a there Pacific Railroad freight :Y. •: �.. • ehouse. The warehouse will be in- ed n- ::_,;: •4 z ""' ,-,.-.. ed in the master plan for the 1893 Southern Pacific Freight Warehouse viewed from the Jennifer Sheet Bridge. oad District. The passenger on has been rehabilitated and is preserving History in the Railroad District g used by Amtrak; the old steam The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum is and would be operated on weekends when motive water tank is being re- an educational organization composed of the facility has minimal traffic. fished and the Railway Express people interested in preserving history. Its ncy building is still standing. All of goal is to preserve the railroad history of San The track will start at a location near the e form a base for a great railroad Luis Obispo and the Central Coast through north end of the freight warehouse parallel e area and museum. preservation, restoration and operation of to Santa Barbara Street. It will proceed historic railroad equipment. south onto Union Pacicfic Railroad property ounds great doesn't it? It won't and follow an abandoned railroad right-0f--way pen unless you get involved! The The San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum into the Emily Street area. Several spur of San Luis Obispo will not include (SLORRM)is currently a division of the non- tracks can be laid for displaying railroad cars area to be set aside for historic profit[501(c)3]Avila Valley Railway Museum. and equipment and as work areas for Because of this legal non-profit status, restoration purposes.Located on this street lays like railroad cars, locomotives SLORRM can accept tax deductible dona- is approximately 150 feet of railroad track any other railroad paraphernalia tions of money or historic artifacts. All owned by the City. ess you ask them to. members of the museum are volunteers. Phase 1 of the project will include restora- ity officials, including Mayor Allen The City of San Luis Obispo has shown tion of the freight warehouse and the laying e and Community Development its appreciation for the history of railroading of track at the warehouse and Emily Street ctor Arnold Jonas are receptive to by the preservation of the Southern Pacific areas. idea of including areas for historic passenger station and the old water tank. Phase 2 will include extension of the track The City Council will soon decide on the onto Union Pacific pro L'a s. The City Promotional Coor- adoption of a Railroad District Master Plan. property to connect with g Committee, responsible for The proposed plan includes the railroad yard their team track. This will facilitate the promotion, has endorsed the and a Multi-modal Transportation Facility to movement of arriving museum equipment e will ask the Cultural Heritage be built on adjoining land to be purchased onto museum tracks.Another display track by the city.The Multi-modal Facility will have w�be constructed south along the railroad ssion for their endorsement right-of--way, parallel to Emily Street. But it must be requested by a bus and taxi loading areas and a large park- i ng area for Amtrak passengers. SLORRM Phase 3 continues with an extension of ugh with the establishment of a asks to be included in this plan. this track southward to the site where the g Sitting on the parcel to be purchased by railroad roundhouse stood.Here numerous aril to preserve San Luis Obispo s the City is an historic Southern Pacific freight rail cars and locomotives can be displayed on ad history. warehouse. It is the goal r Pacific to the actual tracks that were inside the roun- warehe this Frei dhouse. When the roundhouse was rs ago a steam locomotive was freight warehouse for use as a demolished,many of the tracks were left in to the City and the City declin- Railroad Museum and to construct railroad place along with inspection pits and the Ion- to take it. What a mistake! Don't track on non-vital portions of the facility for crete and brick foundation. this happen again. The freight the purpose of displaying and operating ehouse is n to be restored historic railroad locomotives and cars. This This museum will educate and entertain can be accomplished without disruption to local citizens and tourists, benefitting our a caboose is already in town the transportation facility as it would be local economy by making it a destination for ltutg to be moved to this location. located in areas not used by cars or busses the large group of tourists known as Railfans. P o WATER TAN 1 O ♦ii • VP I / x ' G - ,six,• ,� ,, r o , DEL MONTE CAFE 1 } QJENNIFER ST- C Z E RTY �M'�{{11 U 1.0N... SSb.. M I N 1 .. ?3, �., :a 3 - E Oky ,y r POSSIBLE NEW LOCA�10 OFA y i 1u FREIGHT WAREHOUS P.I P Y (future museum) r : - r S71 TS w ` a HASE 1 pl HIGH ST ` HIGH _ST, R HASE 3 0:: :,._ ;. U PACIFIC HOME DO-IT CENTER W rM A _; a • m � ''� �^�-,,. •� SEAQ • U� f m. ROUNDHOUSE AVE Z ol o „ BRANCH SITE OF ROUNDHOUSE µ 14 t ms's ' I, .t t.' ,r ;� 1 r 1,� � r f• i F:�`k .� it lr"a:!)�F"� r..-���r�nP�till�'Ir a e� tY'^ .� �, I SOUL Railroad Museum. will bring tourists -1�7 The addition of The San Luis Obispo motels, restaurants, gas stations and local Railroad Museum will greatly enhance the stores. The State of California already has 1 City's attraction as a tourist destination. many railroad museums and tourist There are approximately a quarter of a railways that bring Railfans into the state. million people in the United States known There is the State Railroad Museum, in as railfans, who travel around the coun- Old Town Sacramento; a state owned try visiting railroad museums and tourist Railroad park and tourist train at railways. Many of these are retirees who Jamestown, in Gold Rush Country; The travel during the week in the off season. Portola Railroad Museum, northeast of not just in summer. There are three ma- Sacramento; and the Dunsmuir Railroad jor magazines; Trains, Railfan and Rail Park, near Mount Shasta, to name a few. Iron Road Pioneers Classics that cater to this group. Accor- All of these attractions are doing a boom- ding to a source , bRailfan, these people Obusiness.Adding a museum in San Luis City to Fund spend on average, $40 per day just at the Obispo would provide another reason for museums,gift shops and tourist railways. these tourists to come to California and This does not include what they spend at stop ;n our city. Sculpture for ens Footbridge Over Tracks o p Railroad Square The City of San Luis Obispo has com- mitted$50,000 in matching funds to create a sculpture that illustrates the importance of railroads to local history, recognizing a the workers, and recognizing the efforts x r of the Chinese community in.making the "iron roads" a reality. The sculpture, created by Elizabeth MacQueen, internationally renowned artist, who resides in San Luis Obispo, will be placed in the traffic circle where Osos .f; :� -• _ - Street enters Railroad Square. I Although the City has allocated$50,000, another $75,000 must be raised to com- plete the project.Anyone wishing to make a donation may do so by sending it to; Iron Road Pioneers, P.O. Box 13455, San Luis ei Obispo. CA 93406. For more information. telephone 805-543-4493, Rax 543-8154 or Jennifer Street footbridge. E-mail: macgsculpt®aol.com. The long anticipated footbridge over the pedestrians and bicyclists to safely cross railroad tracks connecting Osos Street and the railroad tracks. An added benefit,pro- TI'metable the downtown area with Jennifer Street bably of envisioned by the planners,is that and the Terrace Hill neighborhoods was the bridge is an excellent place for Railfan officially opened Friday, March 6th. The to view and photograph trains. MSCCb 25 7:UU m $13 million span now provides a way for Planning Commission Meeting City Hall For more information regarding the San Luis Obispo 990 Palm Street, SLO Railroad Museum contact: April 9, 7:00 pm Brad LaRose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(messages) 461-3456 SLORRM Meeting Karl Hovanitz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(daytime) 544-7658 FAX 544-7675 Amtrak Station, SLO Bill Pyper . . . . . . . . . .(days) 543-2259 or FAX (24 hrs.) 543-9262 April 21, 7:00 pm For more information regarding the Railroad District Master Plan City Council Meeting contact the City of San Luis Obispo County Development Department City Hall at 781-7170. 990 Palm Street, SLO