This is the east end of the historic Oregon Electric Railway depot, where an addition is planned.
Plans to renovate and restore the historic Albany depot of the Oregon Electric Railway cleared a regulatory hurdle last week when the city’s Landmarks Commission gave its OK.
Some members of the commission had reservations about aspects of the planned conversion for the Sybaris restaurant, such as a canopy over the main entrance. But in the end the vote to approve the plan as presented was unanimous.
Sybaris owner Matt Bennett and architect Lori Stevens appeared before the commission on Wednesday. They got approval of a site plan for an addition of about 4,000 square feet on the depot’s east side, and for other changes.
The thrust of the project is to restore the former waiting area of the depot as the dining room, turn the former baggage area into a bar, convert the former ladies’ waiting room into a private dining room, and build the addition on the east side to house the kitchen and an office.
Interior demolition has already laid bare the original elements inside the building, which dates from 1912. That was the year Albany was reached by the track the Oregon Electric Railway was building from Portland to Eugene.
No one at the Landmarks hearing mentioned financing or asked whether and when the planned conversion of the building will take place.
A project budget presented to the city earlier said the work may cost close to $2 million. The budget showed $900,000 in private financing for purchase of the building in 2022, plus a $200,000 Oregon heritage grant already approved from the state, and a $300,000 bank loan.
Bennett’s request to the Albany City Council for a $545,000 grant to cover the rest has been turned down. (hh)
It irks me that something so exclusive (private dining room) gets OUR govt. money.
By “private dining room” I meant a dining room where family or group functions can be held so they don’t bother the other diners.
Glad to hear the City Council turned down the half a million dollar grant. The mere audacity that it was even brought up or considered and placed on the citizens’ already strapped backs was…just WOW.
I agree. Now that CARA is dead, council shouldn’t be as involved in which private business “survives”. While I love Matt and Janel, they should pair down their plans until they have the means to make the addition payoff. Lori is a great architect and I am sure she could come up with a design that could have the addition be a phase two.
Why not drive down the street in front of the building at the speed limit? Of course, not to the west but to the east. You will probably need to have your alignment checked. I bought my first home on 5th in 88 and have seen nothing but improvements on the west of Lyon but nothing to speak of to the east. What does this imply? Oh, on another note I have never seen more than just a scattered few at the carousel.
rolf herstad: I agree. And, the prejudice toward the east side of Lyon goes back to the founding of Albany, apparently. The east side was where the Hackleman’s built their homes; they were not as affluent as the Monteiths who built their homes on the west side.
But, back to present day: I, too, never see more than a few people at the carousel, and the huge playground that dwarfs Monteith Park and the Sr. Center and the Willamette River view is being built to attract kiddies to that area in hopes they will visit the boondoggle known as The Carousel.
After all the great and good deeds that Matt and Janel have done for Albany, you would think the Council would have okayed the grant request of these fine people. What with all the money pouring into Albany preservation, this small ball amount of money should be approved quickly. No good deed goes unpunished one guesses.
Taxpayer dollars shouldn’t be spent on a private venture for a single person or company, unless it is for the good of the public. While Matt and Janel are great, they already have a win with all the other “free” public monies.
Sadly their request for a “grant” is just an example of the expectations that CARA set, to come beg in front of council with your hands out to fund your dreams.