Outside the historic Oregon Electric Railway depot on Nov. 21, 2024. Remodeling was well under way.
It was time to revisit the historic Oregon Electric Railway depot, an Albany landmark since 1912 now being remodeled as the new home of the Sybaris bistro and restaurant.
You last read about the building on this site in May, when the Albany Landmarks Commission approved a site plan for expanding the former depot to add space for a new kitchen and office, among other things
On a bike ride last week I caught up with Sybaris owner Matt Bennett and builder Matt Pyburn at the construction site, 133 Fifth Ave. S.E.
Pyburn is a co-owner of Pyburn & Sons, the firm founded by his grandfather. He’s in charge of the massive remodeling job and the addition on the building’s east side.
One major part of the remodeling is providing a safe access to the basement. The contractor dug a huge hole at the northeast corner of the building to make way for a concrete staircase enclosure.
Two city building permits put a value of more than $700,000 on the remodeling and new construction. Permit fees and other charges, including systems development fees, totaled more than $48,000.
The overall cost has been estimated at $2 million, including the $900,000 purchase price. Except for a $200,000 state historic preservation grant, the project is being privately financed. Last spring Bennett sought a grant of about $500,000 from the City of Albany but was turned down.
While Bennett and his wife, Janel, own the restaurant, the property is in the name of Monteith Square LLC, a real estate investment firm managed by Buzz Wheeler, the founder and former owner of the Coastal Farm retail chain.
At the moment, the remodel project is still in its early stages. The target date for being done, Bennett told me, is some time in the spring or summer of 2025. (hh)
Matt Bennett looks at the excavation that was necessary to install a stairway down to the basement.
The modern wooden floor has been removed to reveal the outline of the old railway ticket counter.
Matt Bennett and builder Matt Pyburn survey the tiles being stored while part of the roof is being rebuilt.
Checking on historic OER depot’s remodel
Outside the historic Oregon Electric Railway depot on Nov. 21, 2024. Remodeling was well under way.
It was time to revisit the historic Oregon Electric Railway depot, an Albany landmark since 1912 now being remodeled as the new home of the Sybaris bistro and restaurant.
You last read about the building on this site in May, when the Albany Landmarks Commission approved a site plan for expanding the former depot to add space for a new kitchen and office, among other things
On a bike ride last week I caught up with Sybaris owner Matt Bennett and builder Matt Pyburn at the construction site, 133 Fifth Ave. S.E.
Pyburn is a co-owner of Pyburn & Sons, the firm founded by his grandfather. He’s in charge of the massive remodeling job and the addition on the building’s east side.
One major part of the remodeling is providing a safe access to the basement. The contractor dug a huge hole at the northeast corner of the building to make way for a concrete staircase enclosure.
Two city building permits put a value of more than $700,000 on the remodeling and new construction. Permit fees and other charges, including systems development fees, totaled more than $48,000.
The overall cost has been estimated at $2 million, including the $900,000 purchase price. Except for a $200,000 state historic preservation grant, the project is being privately financed. Last spring Bennett sought a grant of about $500,000 from the City of Albany but was turned down.
While Bennett and his wife, Janel, own the restaurant, the property is in the name of Monteith Square LLC, a real estate investment firm managed by Buzz Wheeler, the founder and former owner of the Coastal Farm retail chain.
At the moment, the remodel project is still in its early stages. The target date for being done, Bennett told me, is some time in the spring or summer of 2025. (hh)
Matt Bennett looks at the excavation that was necessary to install a stairway down to the basement.
The modern wooden floor has been removed to reveal the outline of the old railway ticket counter.
Matt Bennett and builder Matt Pyburn survey the tiles being stored while part of the roof is being rebuilt.
Tags: 133 Fifth Ave. S.E., historic depot, Matt Bennett, Matt Pyburn, OER, Oregon Electric Railway, restaurant, Sybaris bistro