Tonight's STAR has two articles concerning the possible soon demise of the beautiful BN Depot. I can't think of a "quick" fix..anyone else have an idea?
Remember a while back, there was a poster, (I think the last name was Venn?) looking into making it a restaurant? I imagine at the state it's presently in, it would take a lottery winning to transform it into something like that.

Where will you store the pigeon sh*t?

Someone should throw a match on that place. It's Miles City's greatest testament to big talk and no action.

Or is it a new pool? Hard to say. I guess I'll go with pool.

There you go, turn it into the new city pool. Problem solved.

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (7/13/2009)]

There is no "quick fix." What there can be is an effort to rehabilitate the building into a useful function. It is in excellent shape structurally and there are a million and one uses. Take a look at the depots in Billings or Livingston for example. What we need are people to DO something. There are grants to be applied for and matches to be raised but it is certainly not beyond hope.

We hope to hold a "charette," a meeting for input from the public on possible uses, as was done with the old HRH before it became the Cornerstone. Remember that wreck? Impossible to repair. Too expensive. Just burn it down. Now look at how it contributes to the community.

We have enough empty lots where useful and historic buildings used to be. How about some optimism and effort to prevent that happening again. Miles City could use meeting space, a space for senior citizens to meet, a new justice center, a museum for leatherwork, a performing arts space, the list is long if you put your mind to it.

Who owns it? How would one "purchase" it? Would the railroad do a long lease? I've heard they will only do 1 year at a time and you would have to take the risk of sinking a lot of money into it and then the railroad not renewing the lease.

The BNSF owns it. We are looking into either a 99 year lease or obtaining the property title. Part of the problem with earlier efforts were the terms of the lease, which were so slanted towards the RR, no one in their right mind would sign the lease. We hope to avoid that.

When is the meeting, what time, and where. When that gets set up Amorette let us all know. I can't purchase the building but I would like to help in any way that I can..

Better late than never...

It seems like this would have been a priority a long time ago.

If you could allocate resources to only one or the other, which would be the higher priority, fixing the depot or revitalizing the fire-damaged areas of downtown?

The old NP Depot is an historically significant structure that is still standing.

The fire-damaged areas of downtown are vacant lots with nothing left to save anymore.

BNSF officials can sometimes be daunting to deal with, however, they can also be generous towards a community if approached in the right manner. Both Circle and Terry are testiments to the BN being giving. Their old depots as well as cabooses were given to the community museums and in their cases, moved to the museum grounds and renovated to preserve their historic value. I can't say for sure who helped pay for the move for Circle's but I know that the Terry depot was moved at the expense of the Museum Board & a very generous housemover (he granted a big discount!).

If the BNSF would give a long term lease, the building could be renovated where it is, which would be the best. There are so many things that can be done to preserve it. And it should be preserved. This is a part of Miles City's history. We saw the result of the downtown fire and the loss of history that produced. Don't let this get away as well. But the only way that will happen is if the people around town get involved. It's a big job but it can be done. Good Luck!

The problem with the depot is the people with the inclination towards bring it back to life don't have any money and the people with money don't have any inclination towards bringing it back to life. It would be a very expensive project, Steve find us some funding.

I say jump on Tester or Max and see if there isn't some Obama money somewhere for a jobs/historical project like this. All the billions left to spend there should be a million or three for a stimulus project that would actually provide jobs and community pride.

By the way big "high fives" to all involved with cleaning up Main street it looks fantastic after the fire. I'm not so sure a nice park would not be the answer for that half a block.

CTEP or ISTEA money could be applied toward the depot- the City and County have that money sitting in an account in Helena, I assume, since the fund has not been tapped in some time.

It's unfortunate that there's this VERY late reaction to BN planning to tear the depot down now. BN released intent to demo the building almost two years ago.

I'd love to see something come of the building and the site, but it's strictly a matter of "show them the money".

With our luck, someone will make another casino...

Hey! Bob Netherton could open a Long John Silver, then he'd have a reason to move back here

The old NP Depot is an historically significant structure that is still standing.

True, but ...

The fire-damaged areas of downtown are vacant lots with nothing left to save anymore.

... which really isn't all that appealing to anyone who might otherwise spend money in Miles City. Revitalizing the heart of Miles City would do a lot more good for Miles City than a refurbished depot that is off the beaten path.

The question really is whether or not you'd rather have a nose job or a kidney transplant.

The lots downtown are private property. The ownership of the depot would have to be some kind of public or non-profit ownership.

We started work on the depot several times but things--like fires--kept distracting folks. An architect from Billings was telling us about the five false starts on restoring their Depot so I still have hope.

The lots downtown are private property. The ownership of the depot would have to be some kind of public or non-profit ownership.

I realize that. But I also see the irony in seeing so much support for the depot and so little concern for downtown, when the attitude seemed to be, "It'll cost money to fix things!? Pish-posh!"

Again, would the people of Miles City rather have cosmetic surgery or a failing organ transplanted?

Here in Billings, no one would go to the revitalized depot if the businesses on Montana Avenue hadn't have been improved first.

The issue isn't whether the 700 block of Main St. is reconstructed or the Depot is stayed from demolition. The issue is that, yes, it's necessary for Main St. to be rebuilt and the Depot should, through reasonable accommodation by BNSF and with proper planning, be put to more constructive use than a standing pile of rubble in a landfill.

Funding already allocated to Miles City through the Community Transportation Enhancement Program(CTEP) may be applied to a Depot project but not to the 700 block of Main St. There are other incentives to use on Main St. that could prove just as valuable.

Both are exciting prospects for the community. It's not a zero sum argument.

I think the 'what to do with it' is the biggest obstacle to get over. The proximity to the tracks probably limits what you can do. And I'm not sure Miles City needs another museum. Although that'd be better than destruction I guess.

Good point, Rick. That's the exciting part of the prospect, assuming it gets that far.

Kudos to K.Duffy for asking the right question at the top o' the thread.

Here in Billings, no one would go to the revitalized depot if the businesses on Montana Avenue hadn't have been improved first.

I think you have that backwards, Brian. According to the people I've talked to in Billings (all very good sources), the Depot renovation came first, and that stimulated interest in revitalizing the neighboring private properties.

I agree with you, Steve. The depot drove the revival of Montana Ave.

It's unfortunate that there's this VERY late reaction to BN planning to tear the depot down now. BN released intent to demo the building almost two years ago.

Hmmm... Implying that people failed to take action in the past isn't usually a very good way of motivating action in the present, especially when:
A) a good number of the people whose cooperation and support is needed "today" are the same people who (allegedly) failed to take action in the "past"
and
b) The people who (allegedly) failed to take action in the past actually tried many times to do something to save the Depot - but for various reasons, one of which was an old lease that created a messy and potentially expensive legal situation, things didn't work out.

I salute those who tried to save it. As we learned at the Main Street Revitalization discussion a few weeks ago when Ralph Johnson was here, from Crisis springs Opportunity. The imminence of BNSF's action may be just what is needed to galvanize the many different factions that need to come together to create a viable plan for saving the Depot.

It's up to us to use our energy and time wisely. It would be a shame to waste those precious resources casting blame where none is warranted.

And Brian - I appreciate the point you are trying to make about downtown revitalization vs. saving the Depot, but the two are really apples and oranges. There isn't any reason why both can't be accomplished as different issues and resources are at play - and it just might be that a happy synergy is created wherein the solutions involved in one help solve the other, and vice versa.

[This message has been edited by Steve Craddock (7/14/2009)]

I think you have that backwards, Brian. According to the people I've talked to in Billings (all very good sources), the Depot renovation came first, and that stimulated interest in revitalizing the neighboring private properties.

My mistake. I will say that the two (the depot and the business on Montana) have a symbiotic relationship. I will also say that far fewer people would be comfortable going to the depot if the the area wasn't as vibrant as it is now. It's still not a perfect place, but it's much, much better than it was before.

And Brian - I appreciate the point you are trying to make about downtown revitalization vs. saving the Depot, but the two are really apples and oranges. There isn't any reason why both can't be accomplished as different issues and resources are at play - and it just might be that a happy synergy is created wherein the solutions involved in one help solve the other, and vice versa.

I know it's not an either/or thing. My main point is that there seems to be a lot more people who are vocal in their support for revitalizing the depot than there were for rebuilding the 700 block of Main. When the topic of rebuilding came up before, there were more than a few people who pulled out their pockets and said, "You didn't say it would cost anything! Not me, pal!"

Miles City seems to have a history of being EXTREMELY supportive of certain things and "meh" about others, even when the things that get the "meh" response might have more of a positive impact on the community.

I'd be happy to mention a specific example, but I don't want people to think that I hate certain other people.

As reported in the Miles City Star, tonight's City Council agenda includes an item of new business regarding the Depot, to wit:

"Resolution 3285: Intent to explore acquisition of the BNSF deport and the underlying property."

The proposed resolution language reads as follows:

NOW THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MILES CITY, MONTANA that it urges that the former Northern Pacific Depot on the 500 Block of Pacific Avenue be retained and rehabilitated and that the government of the City of Miles City, the local community, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad jointly formulate and review alternatives to the demolition of such structure;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor of the City of Miles City is hereby authorized to utilize City personnel to explore and formulate alternatives to the demolition of the former Northern Pacific passenger depot and shall present to the Council any alternatives that have been developed for further action by the Council.

Adoption of the proposed City Council resolution will be the first (or, if it fails, potentially the last) step in moving forward with identifying an alternate use plan for the Depot. Therefore: EVERYONE and ANYONE with an interest or opinion regarding the depot is encouraged to attend.

Miles City Council Meeting
Tuesday, July 14th, 2009
Starting time: 7:00 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
17 South 8th Street - 2nd Floor

If you can't make it exactly at 7:00, you should still attend as this item isn't the first thing on the agenda...

[This message has been edited by City Grant Administrator (7/14/2009)]

Oh my God Brian, you're not going to start talking about metal bats again are you?

The "people" aren't in charge of the fire site. The owners are. The City can encourage and provide advice but it is up to the private property owners to rebuild. One probably will, one probably won't and one is up in the air and there is nothing the City can do one way or the other.

However, with the Depot, the BNSF refuses to deal with anyone other than a governmental entity so the City has to step up. I plan to attend the Council meeting tonight to throw in my two cents.

As for WHAT to put in the building, the list is long and getting longer. Latest suggestion: have the bus stop there! Parking and access is great! That would only take up a small space but it would provide income.

Just a newcomer here - but how about a visitors' center and the chamber of commerce? Large spaces could also be rented out for community meetings/events, such as the performing arts someone else suggested. Does the Chamber own the building at its current location? If not, I think it is prime for a move. As it is, the Chamber storefront is tiny and hard to find. The depot would be historic and welcoming.

I'm surprised BN won't just hand it over, it's got to be a hazard. Is it really even inhabitable?

I wonder how the depot would look on 8th and Main.

Probably like a pigeon crap depository.

Uck Buck. Buck, buck, BUCK, BUCK Buck. What are we gonna do with you?

And before you say it, I'll say it for you. Crapduck.

Oh my God Brian, you're not going to start talking about metal bats again are you?

Hells no. Metal bats are the DEVIL!

Seriously Crapduck, that things is horrible. The junkies don't even shoot up in there. It hasn't been vandalized in a decade.

Wait a minute, should I be calling you Crapchicken?

[This message has been edited by Buck Showalter (7/14/2009)]

BNSF is a benevolent corporation that certainly believes in offering support to communities along its rail lines. Surely BNSF is doing a booming business hauling how many trains through the middle of town each day? NP/BNSF and the City of Miles City have had a long, mostly harmonious relationship for over a hundred and twenty-five years.

Surely it's not too much for them to offer the City a long term lease on the depot land and to donate the depot building to the City. And perhaps the money that BNSF would have spent on demolition and removal is something BNSF would be willing to donate toward the cost of replacing the roof on the building. Perhaps BNSF would even go so far as to donate the entire cost of replacing the roof. It did fall into terrible disrepair under the company's watch.

Then perhaps a CTEP grant could be received that could help pay for restoring the walks and drive and installing a nice barrier fence between the land and the tracks.

Then with a little more -- say community contributions -- doors and windows get replaced. Soon you have a very nice community hall.

One can dream.

But seriously, I say:

1. The roof has to be replaced and pronto before further damage occurs.

2. I really am surprised and disappointed to think that BNSF would in any way want to discourage this building from being saved and put to use for the benefit of the community. If they are trying to impose stipulations that present a roadblock to progress on this then at a minimum I'd be curious to know if those same stipulations were placed on other depot projects along the line. And if they were, how did those communities overcome the problem.

Duffy - I barely have money to EAT at an Long John Silvers, let alone open one. (Its not really that bad but you catch my drift).

Buck - I don't get it, and I'm not going to try. And you can call me anything you want - I have very selective listening. I enjoy a lot of your humor, while other lines get flushed along with the pigeon crap and similar excrement and detritus of the day.

[This message has been edited by Steve Craddock (7/14/2009)]

David - Excellent points, thoughts and questions.

The City Council tonight gave unanimous approval to the resolution (posted above) authorizing the Mayor to explore the options available to save the Depot from demolition, and it will signal (npi) BNSF that the community is formally and seriously considering alternate ways of using the Depot to help address existing community needs.

Important points to remember at this point:

The Council's action does NOT authorize the expenditure of any City funds to acquire or repair the Depot.

The City is aware that there are many needs searching for funding right now and in the near future (Riverside Park bathrooms, flood control improvements, Main Street recovery and beautification, etc.) - so there is a need to ensure that the various projects do not compete with or detract from each other for funding and other resources.

The Mayor and the Preservation Commission will be developing a public involvement process to ensure that everyone interested in participating in the Depot will have that opportunity.

So, stay tuned...

Buck. Buck, buck, BUCK, BUCK Buck.

Crapchicken

I applaud the City Council & their actions! Now if you can get the County Commissioners involved to make this a joint effort (for the good of the whole community) that would make it even better.

As to the main street being owned privately... a park was created in downtown Circle that involved just 2 lots - both privately owned still - but with the owners approval. The Circle Square has picnic tables plus a back fence & nice plantings all of which were donated through a fundraising project. This area is well used especially during Circle's Town & Country Day but also by others during events at the Senior Center or at the Wooden Nickel. Across the street is another lot which has also been made into an area where people can "set up shop" during the Christmas in July event or on the town Garage Sale Day...again, this lot is privately owned but made available to the community. Maybe the owners on Main Street could get together & plan something like this for Miles City...and I'm sure there would people who would donate to help make it a park. That was a great idea!

Don't even try to understand Buck.

Miles City already has a downtown park. Veteran's Park. A previous fire led to a empty lot which was turned into a park. We already have plenty of parks. What we need are viable, tax-paying businesses!

Now, back to the NP Depot. There is some fear that if we fix up the depot, that will take money away from other projects. To clarify, most grants are for specific purposes. A Surface Transportation Board grant will not build a sewage treatment plant. A Department of Environmental Quality grant will not fix up depot. The Cornerstone project put together millions of dollars in grants and tax credits without taking away from any other City project.

If there is such a thing as a Pot o' Money grant for any purpose, I haven't found it yet! Follow that rainbow!

How's the asbestos situation?

According to BNSF legal counsel, all asbestos has been removed from the depot as a phase I of the planned demolition.

I know there are lots of ways to raise money and lots of different grants available. I would think that some kind of kick-off fundraiser would be a good idea to make sure everyone knows that saving the depot is a serious fact, not just rumors floating around.

How about something simple to start....like
SAVE THE DEPOT t-shirts with a picture of what it once looked like.

I'm sure someone has a photo.

That way people who care but are not in Miles City could contribute and word could spread rapidly in town.

"I wonder how the depot would look on 8th and Main. "

I was wondering that myself Kill two birds with one stone so to speak. And maybe a few pigeons.

We actually tossed that around but several questions stopped serious consideration. Moving it would cost a fortune on top of restoring it and the lots on 8th and Main belong to the owners, who probably have their own ideas of what they want.

There are lots of grants meant specifically for abandoned depots. But first, we need to create a serious, step by step, plan. (IF the BNSF agrees to postpone demolition, which is NOT certain) There will be public meetings and "brainstorming" sessions or charettes in the near future to keep an eye out for them.

I've skipped to the bottom of everything above, so if I repeat something already posted, sorry.

Any viable use of the depot would probably be better than the scrap pile. An ag supply business, a casino, a warehouse, a mini-storage, a vehicle repair shop, a supply warehouse, a strip joint- they may not be the highest and best use; they may not be the most desired use, but they would keep the building in use and (hopefully) keep it from falling down around itself. Perhaps until the time comes that some individual or group with time, money, and desire decides it wants to rehabilitate or restore it to a higher condition.

Sure it would be a neat visitors center, art gallery, office, or something else, but I've been here seventeen years and nobody has stepped up to do any of those things.

Here's a novel idea- get the highway department to make it into the I94 West interchange rest area (sans semi-trucks of course). It would bring people to downtown, provide a cool historic connection to transportation, and that's pretty much what it was for the railroad at one time anyway. Then when Congress decides to re-direct Amtrak to the southern route, we'll have a station at the ready!

Has anyone here actually been inside this building? The last time I saw it was when someone had opened a "Stuff procured from wrecked trains" store, maybe 15 years ago? (Yes, Brian, I found lots of treasures )

Is there an upstairs ~ to speak of? How about water/electricity? What would be involved in getting them hooked up?

Depot = Kegler's West!?

If my memory serves me correctly, some government agency(s) need to do a bunch of study on the floodplain situation. Given it's proximity to the river and flood plain, why not offer them free office space at the depot if they fix it up.

BN Depot + Concrete Swimming Pool = "The Cannonball Express"

Beautiful building, isn't it?



http://www.flickr.com/pho...743918119/

Many a train ride to Billings started from there, what great memories that picture brings back. I also took off from there more than once on my way to Bozeman for scout camp, SPL training.

Part of me is happy and glad that some people are interested in trying to save the depot. I personally think it is too little too late. If the city wanted to save it, that should have happend more than 5 years ago. I remember looking inside before BNSF boarded up the windows. Looking in I thought that the building would have been something to see in its day, but the time it would take to fix it up properly and safely i don't think is worth the cost. Also to add if somehow we as a City did get it fixed that we would also have a additional cost of some type of insurance since it is so close to the tracks. I would rather it got torn down and the money used for something more useful like fixing all the streets in town. Upgrading all the water and sewer lines. Hell, the list could go on and on if you just think of some things that could use some help in town. Sorry if i made a few people mad but i usually say what is on my mind, no matter who is on the other side. Tear it down.

As I explained to the City Council, the pots of money for fixing streets, building sewage treatment plants and restoring depots are all separate. There is no such thing as a "spend it any way you please" grant. Restoring the depot would not take away from anything except CTEP funds and we have a HUGE backlog of CTEP funding, enough that some could be spent on the depot with money left over for Tatro sidewalks and maybe streetlights and other projects.

The City is NOT spending City money. It is finding a way to get a firm handle on ownership so that grants can be applied for that would be used for the depot and couldn't be used for anything else.

As for the insurance issue. . .if it is such a problem, then I guess there isn't a restored depot in use next to active tracks in the country. Except, there are, lots of them. There are also lots of businesses next to active tracks. Insurance is not an issue. It is only used as an excuse.

Yes, Miles City is the issue.

Bismarck has a mexican restaurant / bar in their old depot which is right downtown. It is really a nice place

Fiesta Villa, baby. Best marg on the rocks one can find, outside of Mexico!

Amorette (and everybody else, too!), what other factors contributed to scrapping the idea of moving the building to Eighth and Main? Or has the idea even been completely scapped? Is there any possibility that this could happen? It is my understanding that the building would fit quite nicely on the fire site, which is definitely a plus!

Also, since the building is technically a liability for BNSF, I could imagine they would be more than willing to have it moved off the property. They would have to pay large amounts to have it torn down anyway, so is there any way we could approach them to contribute the money it would've cost them to demolish it and use that money to help move it? It sounds like if they're approached with a collective open mind and not in a demanding way, they would at least be willing to entertain some different options.

While I am not knowledgable regarding many of the technicalities of making this idea happen, I AM a young person who has no memory of the depot as it was but would LOVE to see it be revitalized and made anew to serve the community for many more years to come.

As someone mentioned earlier, the building is in good structural shape...another plus. Also, (and I'm assuming that you, Amorette, would be the best person to educate all of us on this) I think that putting a historic building back onto the fire site and into the historic area of town would be an excellent way to show the pride we have as a community about our historic aspects.

Regarding grant monies...couldn't we utilize BOTH the monies available for saving the depot AND the monies available for revitalizing the fire site? It seems to me that the "Either/Or" attitude that many people have expressed is getting us nowhere, so I would propose to move toward a "Both/And" type of attitude!

I understand that ownership of the property on the fire site could provide a problem, but is it not something that could be worked out in some way? Are none of the owners of the fire site property interested in purchasing the entire site to help make something like this happen?

On another note, I think that there could be a couple of different very effective uses for the space; the first being a restaurant/night club. It could be a restaurant until about 10 PM and then could stop serving food but continue serving drinks until 2 AM.

It could also be a sports bar/pub style place with large screen TVs to watch all of the sporting events of the year. Knowing what a sports-oriented community Miles City is, I think it could work. And I know that there have been a couple of sports bars that failed, but I think with the proper preparation and atmosphere that it could be really great!

What about a flexible space which could be used for wedding receptions? Maybe it could be a restaurant which also offers wedding receptions services when booked! That would be a BEAUTIFUL building to have a wedding reception in, that's for sure! It could have a dance floor and a stage so that it could also host things like an open-mic night, karaoke night, or bands that may come to town.

Just trying to spark some ideas! I am really excited about the possibility of moving it to Main street, and hope that idea isn't completely out of the picture!

Or maybe instead of another bar or night club or restaurant, what about a place geared more towards kids/family activities? Everyone is always saying that Miles City needs more things for the kids, so why not that? My boyfriend remembers when there use to be a roller rink here, so what if they put in another roller rink with maybe an arcade? And had a snack bar with tables set up? Or spot in it with a rock wall, or pool tables?
No matter what they decide, I hope that they are able to come up with a solution, and that the building will be saved. My daughter is only 2, but It would really suck if she never got a chance to see for her self what a beautiful building is was (and still could be again).

I questioned whether it is even possible to move a masonry building but apparently it is.

http://www.paynebuildingm...buildings/

It could be moved if someone could afford to but moving would probably add between $50,000 and $100,000 to the cost of restoration, if a mover could be found.

It would also no longer be eligible for listing on the National Historic Register, thus making it ineligible for the 20% tax credit program and other grants for listed buildings.

Additionally, the owners of the properties on Main Street are not going to give their property away so there are several thousand more bucks in cost. Many thousands, if rumors are true.

It is a fun idea, moving the depot, but it is not practical.

[This message has been edited by Amorette Allison (8/4/2009)]

The old depot in Dillon,MT was restored & is part of the museum complex. It has a tourism office/chamber of commerce & exhibits. Plus it's used for theatre productions & entertainment. I do not know what part Union Pacific played but I do know they were generous about long term leases of right of way where the depot & other museum buildings are located. I believe the depot is on the register of historic buildings. The museum receives a mil or two from the county & has a fundraising foundation. (the railroad adjacent is still in use)

http://74.125.155.132/search?q=cache:SEJ9EW9c96EJ:www.montanapictures.net/dillon-montana-park.htm+dillon+montana+depot&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

http://74.125.155.132/sea...clnk&gl=us

There's gotta be a way we can get another casino in there.

I think Chad's rest area idea is the best I've ever seen for the depot though.

As far as casinos go though, we were camping this weekend south of Big Timber and were talking to a family on their way through from Wisconsin. He asked where we were from, and when we said Miles City, he said he got gas here on his way through, and then jumped right to 'what's with all the casinos?'

Sometimes those outside perspectives are a little sobering.

Maybe Bobby Kenny has a bright idea about what to do with the depot!

Rick--at least when Miles City was famous for its brothels, they weren't so obvious!

So if moving it isn't practical, how else can it be saved? Is the objective to convince BNSF to keep the building on its property? I am still unclear about the specific goals of how to save the building...

Off the top of my head I'd think moving the structural masonry depot would run closer to $85 per square foot, plus permits, and the new foundation. If it's 40 x 100 (I'm guessing on size) that would add about $340,000 to the project of doing something with it. You would lose the mosaic tile floors; the exterior brick pavers have already been "removed" by a few local residents.

The most cost effective option is to leave it where it is and come up with a feasible use for it.

I definitely understand that moving the building would be outrageously expensive...there's no doubt about that. But I was under the impression that BNSF didn't want the building on their property. Was I mistaken? I didn't think they were willing to keep the building on their property at all...

I could DEFINITELY be wrong...believe it or not that's happened before! haha! I'm just looking for more information and insight into the situation!

BNSF GRANTS STAY-OF-DEMOLITION TO NP DEPOT

BNSF Railway has agreed to stay the demolition of the historic Northern Pacific Depot in Miles City as the community explores the feasibility of an adaptive-use renovation of the decaying structure, according to Mayor Joe Whalen. The announcement followed a Friday morning meeting Mayor Whalen held with BNSF General Manager Rick Bartoskewitz, Director of Government Affairs Barbara Ranf, Miles City Preservation Officer Amorette Allison, and Miles City Grant Administrator Steve Craddock.

During the meeting, both delegations recognized the value of renovated depots to the economies of historic districts across the West, as well as the need to reduce liability to BNSF through prompt resolution in negotiating the future of the blighted structure.

"This is the best news I've heard in years!", exclaimed a beaming Allison, who has sadly watched the once-grand terminal deteriorate since the last passenger train left the station in 1979 despite various attempts at private ownership and management.
BNSF General Manager Bartoskewitz said, "The railroad wants to be a good neighbor to Miles City and we'll work closely with the mayor to move toward a timely resolution concerning the depot."

FINDING INSPIRATION FROM A WESTERN NEIGHBOR

Just two days prior, a delegation of a dozen interested citizens from Miles City, including the mayor, toured the renovated Billings Depot and revitalized Montana Avenue District. The group examined the renovated facility, studied a scrapbook of snapshots documenting the Herculean restoration, and interrogated Billings Depot, Inc. founders, Harry Gottwals and Dennis Deppmeier about the key to their success.

"The benefits of adaptive-use projects such as the Billings Depot extend beyond the railroad property lines to the entire downtown historic district. Try to imagine what Montana Ave. would feel like today if the Billings community hadn't come together since 1993 to make the Depot project happen", said Whalen. "We'll find a way to make something similar work for downtown Miles City but we need to move quickly."

The railroad agreed to provide the City with several specific documents relating to the environmental and structural condition of the property as a next step. Meanwhile, the City is planning to hold a community meeting soon as part of the feasibility study that the City Council authorized unanimously by resolution.

Thats great news...thanks to all that worked to see this happen...

I was born in 1980 in Miles City, and since as long ago as I remember I've thought that was the coolest building in town and needed to be restored for something, anything.

That being said, Miles City has ZERO good venues for events, seriously, ZERO. Billings has the Alberta Bair Theatre, Bozeman has that one place over by the college. Miles City REALLY needs a place with a GOOD stage, seating, and a balcony. From what I remember being in the depot it would be PREFECT for that use...

Josh, that is also given the fact that both Billings and Bozeman see mainstream events at thos places. If you remember the last mainstream event Miles City saw left with stitches and a concusion, and we'll have to see what could possibly happen to the next one at fair time. Aside from that, this is a big step of hope for this location. I personally think that there could be a lot of good uses for that building. GOOD LUCK!!

Wasn't there a line from "Field of Dreams".....'build the field, and they will come'......maybe that is a line of thought to be considered for the restoration of the depot????

I think the line was "If you build it, they will come."

Great line for a movie screenplay. Not so good for a business plan.

Josh, that is also given the fact that both Billings and Bozeman see mainstream events at thos places.

Interesting facts, but the REASON billings gets mainstream shows has nothing to do with the big venues and EVERYTHING to do with the SMALL venues. There is at least 3 live shows a WEEK here, be they bands, plays, or comedy, at the Yellowstone perk, at the FOE, Bones, the Rail Yard, the Red Door, Tiny's Tavern, Thursday night live, Venture Theater, Farmers market, the Yellowstone valley brewing company, and those are just the ones that I PERSONALLY know about .

These are all small venues that MY band can play at. When my band wanted to play in Miles City we had to rent the ballroom at the Eagles. It's a great room, but NOT set up for doing small concerts or plays at this time. The depot would be perfect for a venue like the Venture Theater here in Billings, and all it would take is a new roof and major cleanup, plus a stage haha.

http://www.venturetheatre.org/index.html

Josh, the other reason you are forgeting for mainstream venues, is population base and locatin to that population, i.e. Billings- 100,000 people+colleges, Bozeman-major university+larger population than MC. Don't get me wrong I don't think it is a bad idea, just consider the scale. It could be good or it could be a waste, its a toss up.

btme, your not reading my post, I'm not talking about getting mainstream shows, did you visit the link? I think not haha.

Josh your missing my point, I know what Venture theatre does and all of the other places, I lived in Billings, I didn't say it was a bad idea, I said look at your scale. There is more opportunity for those small venues when you have a larger population base. As well as the large venues. The depot has many possiblities, that being one of them I am sure you could play for 200+ people there, or another fine dining resturant, or for that matter in typical Miles City trend, a very fancy casino(God I hope not). It could be a great reception hall, for dances, things like the Park Place does. I am not in disagreement. I was just making a comment.

You said it could be a waste, I think your wrong. I grew up 18 years in Miles City and it never had a good attitude towards starting out small. I'm not saying that a venture theater would be the best use for the deport building, but Miles City NEEDS something like that. What is there for kids to do in that town? Nothing, no roller rink, no youth center, no venture theater type stuff, no place for bands to play if kids form them, no mall(which is probably a GOOD thing), no skate park, no folf park, no indoor swimming pool. These are mostly very small things that could be provided for very easily, with the major exception of the pool.

Kids in Miles City live in a boring prison, hence the reason my wife and I have zero ambition to raise our kids there when we have them. And until the community as a whole starts taking these simple things seriously it'll remain that way.

Josh- This is what I wrote:

"It could be good or it could be a waste, its a toss up."

Meaning that it cannot be half-assed, whatever is done it needs to be done well, or else it would be a waste, of time, money, peoples patience, whatever would be wasted. Crap man,read all the words then compute. There is no hidden language here. I am agreeing with you.

http://www.billingsgazett...03286.html

Oh, lord, not the "there is nothing to do in Miles City" whine again. Let's not start that in this thread. There are million things that could be done with the depot, so please, keep this thread on track to the Depot, not the "how come people aren't doing enough to entertain my kids."

For a performance venue, it probably could seat around 100 people. A balcony, however, is out of the question. Acoustics are also an issue in depot style buildings. They are all hard surfaces. Now, I'm told by someone who once worked in the building that, surprisingly, train noise is not much of an issue. The building was designed to be next to a railroad track and the sound and vibration issues were addressed when it was built.

Apparently, there is also a basement. I was working on the National Historic Register nomination and the articles written when it was being constructed in 1923 mention the basement! It probably couldn't be used for anything involving people but would make rewiring, new plumbing, new temperature control easier! Learn something new every day.

My favorite thing in the article on the dedication was the description of the phone booth in the waiting room. Really. The only architectural feature mentioned was the phone booth. Apparently, in 1923, a phone booth was a pretty happening feature!

So, when we figure out a fabulous new use or two, I hope we can retain the phone booth!

Amorette, are you going to write/re-publish that article on the depot? I would like to see it.

I did an article on the depot history that was in the Star a month or so ago. Is that what you are referring to?