Proposed land swap could save old Boones Mill depot

A group working to save the circa-1880s railroad depot in the heart of Boones Mill received some good news Friday when the Franklin County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to instruct county staff to consider a land swap with the town that could free up a new home for the depot.

In addition, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources has agreed to fund a survey of historic buildings in Boones Mill. If a historic district is designated, renovation of historic buildings within the district could be supported by state and federal historic tax credits.

That could include the depot, which could possibly retain its historic designation even if moved.

As envisioned, what is now a site of about 1.57 acres that houses Dumpsters to collect county residents’ trash would become available as a spot to move the depot a short distance. The Dumpsters would be located on town property that once housed North American Housing Corp.

Ben Flora, mayor of Boones Mill, said the supervisors’ vote, which came during the board’s retreat Friday, could provide a great spot for the depot to move.

“We’re grateful,” Flora said. “We think the location is ideal. It’s a short hop. Maybe 100 yards or less.”

Norfolk Southern Corp., which owns the former Norfolk & Western Railway depot, has said it is willing to donate the building but insists that it be moved because its current location, close to adjoining tracks, could become a liability issue for the company.

Last year, a contractor hired by the railroad applied to the county for a permit to demolish the building. But Norfolk Southern later agreed to give the town more time to pursue the depot’s preservation.

Initial efforts to save the building bogged down when leaders of a citizens group clashed with town officials.

Later, a Boones Mill historical committee that includes Flora, Town Councilman Mike Smith and others organized and reached out to Bev Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, and asked him to be a volunteer facilitator of sorts.

Flora said Fitzpatrick’s assistance has been invaluable.

“He offers a wealth of information and insight,” Flora said. “He’s just a great resource.”

Meanwhile, Michael Pulice, an architectural historian for the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, said a historic district in Boones Mill was determined eligible to be listed on the historic registers in 1998 as part of the study of a possible Interstate 73 corridor in the vicinity of U.S. 220, which passes through town.

Pulice said Tuesday that DHR has earmarked money to hire a consultant to resurvey about 37 individual properties. He said that if the designation moves forward, a historic district could be listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the end of August 2014.

“It is hoped that the designation will facilitate revitalization, particularly in the commercial sector of town, primarily by enabling use of state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits,” Pulice said in an email.

The district would include the depot, Pulice said.

He said that if the former freight and passenger station is later moved a short distance, the hope would be that the depot would be able to maintain its historic designation.

“The designation could be useful in obtaining funds for its rehabilitation,” Pulice said.

He noted that owners of properties in state or federally designated historic districts “never face restrictions on how they might remodel or otherwise change the structures.” He said such restrictions can result only from local overlay zoning ordinances.

However, if an owner hopes to recover renovation costs from historic tax credits there will be guidelines for how such work can proceed.

Flora said the committee will seek new estimates for how much moving the depot will cost. Last year, one estimate for moving the building and placing it on a new foundation suggested the cost would be about $140,000.

He said the supervisors’ willingness to consider a land swap is a step in the right direction and that any momentum that follows could help a campaign to raise money.

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