Over the last three years, Albany’s historic depot of the Oregon Electric Railway has been restored, remodeled and expanded for its next role in the community’s life.
The Nov. 26 story about the remodeling of the former Oregon Electric Railway depot in Albany prompted a couple of comments about the brick paving that once covered that part of Southeast Fifth Avenue. One person wondered if the brick was still there and whether it could be restored.
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.
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.
It’s hard to imagine now what the old Oregon Electric Railway depot in Albany will be like once it has been fully restored and Sybaris Bistro has moved in. But Matt Bennett can imagine it very well, and he explained his ideas to me this week.
Now it’s official: Janel and Matt Bennett, owners of Sybaris, are buying the historic Oregon Electric Railway station in downtown Albany and plan to move their world-class restaurant there.
Preserve historic rails, Landmarks panel says
If Fifth Avenue east of Lyon Street is ever going to be repaved, what happens to the 114-year-old railroad track under the crumbling asphalt? The Albany Landmarks Commission would like the track preserved.
Tags: Fifth Avenue, historic tracks, Oregon Electric Railway, railroad tracks