For the past three years when looking out the window, Jaime Bugarin has seen untamed brush and a chain-link fence surrounding the abandoned Congers train station.
"It really brings the place down," the father of two said last week. "It's not a good sight."
Possibly by next fall, Bugarin will see a much more pleasant sight. Two weeks ago, Clarkstown began a restoration of the former train station to return it to its turn-of-the-20th-century glory. A passive park is also planned for part of the 3-acre property near the corner of Lake Road and Burnside Avenue.
So far, the town has demolished a greenhouse and garden center that had been attached to the station, said Charles Connington, superintendent of parks and recreation.
The town also plans to restore the interior of the station and turn it into meeting rooms. The first-floor meeting room will hold about 20 to 25 people while the second-floor room will accommodate 10 to 15. The building will have handicapped-accessible bathrooms.
Next to the station will be a passive park with a garden, water fountain and benches.
"We might do some concerts there, too," Connington said.
There also will be a small parking lot for cars.
With the revitalization of downtown Congers, Connington said the station's restoration "will really tie the hamlet together."
Councilman Ralph Mandia agreed.
"We want to try and restore some of the hamlet's antiquity, give the hamlet some character and make it into something people will like and enjoy," he said.
The train station was built in 1890, and passengers could travel from Congers to Jersey City, N.J. Service on what became known as the West Shore railroad was discontinued in 1959.
The town bought the property about three years ago for $910,000. The restoration project will cost the town $3 million, which will be funded through bonds, Connington said.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/ ... ngers.html
"It really brings the place down," the father of two said last week. "It's not a good sight."
Possibly by next fall, Bugarin will see a much more pleasant sight. Two weeks ago, Clarkstown began a restoration of the former train station to return it to its turn-of-the-20th-century glory. A passive park is also planned for part of the 3-acre property near the corner of Lake Road and Burnside Avenue.
So far, the town has demolished a greenhouse and garden center that had been attached to the station, said Charles Connington, superintendent of parks and recreation.
The town also plans to restore the interior of the station and turn it into meeting rooms. The first-floor meeting room will hold about 20 to 25 people while the second-floor room will accommodate 10 to 15. The building will have handicapped-accessible bathrooms.
Next to the station will be a passive park with a garden, water fountain and benches.
"We might do some concerts there, too," Connington said.
There also will be a small parking lot for cars.
With the revitalization of downtown Congers, Connington said the station's restoration "will really tie the hamlet together."
Councilman Ralph Mandia agreed.
"We want to try and restore some of the hamlet's antiquity, give the hamlet some character and make it into something people will like and enjoy," he said.
The train station was built in 1890, and passengers could travel from Congers to Jersey City, N.J. Service on what became known as the West Shore railroad was discontinued in 1959.
The town bought the property about three years ago for $910,000. The restoration project will cost the town $3 million, which will be funded through bonds, Connington said.
http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/ ... ngers.html
