Lease agreement for depot property finally 'executed'
KCS donates building, agrees to lease and contributes $31,000
By BENJAMIN C. SHARP bensharp@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Benjamin Sharp This handrail leading up to the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot should get some usage now that the building has been donated and a lease has been finalized.

For more than a year, Kansas City Southern Railroad officials have pledged to donate the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot to the city of Wharton and establish a long-term lease on the land it sits on.

This month, the railroad company has finally delivered on that promise.

William Loocke, co-chairman of the depot restoration committee, said Friday the donation has been finalized and the lease has been "executed." KCS has further donated $31,000 to cover the outstanding portion of a state matching grant.

"We're done there. It's over with," Loocke said.

No one has worked more diligently on getting the depot restored and into the hands of local officials than Loocke and Merrell "Doc" Barfield. Barfield first drew attention to the dilapidated Sunset Street facility nearly seven years ago.

Getting the building donated and the lease in hand is the culmination of countless hours of work and dedication, Barfield said.

"It feels good," Barfield said.

The restoration project was actually completed in November of 2006. Though preliminary lease arrangements have since been worked out between the city and prospective tenants - including the Colorado Valley Transit Authority - the Sunset Street facility has yet to be occupied.

The problem has been ownership of the building. The city has been leasing the depot from KCS for $1 per year for a 25-year period with intentions to obtain the deed as soon as possible.

With deed in hand, the city can apply the facility's value as a match toward a $1 million state grant.

The building and property were valued at roughly $60,000. The city had committed to covering $68,000.

With the building donated, that still left about $31,000 to cover the grant match.

It was feared pledges from area businesses and residents might have to be called in to cover the outstanding amount.

But that will no longer be necessary - thanks to KCS's $31,000 donation.

"We don't have to call in the pledges now," Loocke said.

The railroad could not to donate the depot's land as well. The land is currently locked up in a lien.

Loocke said that situation may be cleared up soon.

"Once the lien is released, the land will be donated to us," he said.

In the meantime, the depot can begin being used. In addition to a railroad museum, the building will also house a CVTA bus station.

"It's ready for them to move in," Loocke said.