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Reconstruction of Prospect Train Depot could begin soon

   Written by on June 23, 2016 at 2:22 pm

By Crystal Vandegrift

Prospect Depot copyPROSPECT – Following years at a standstill, the reconstruction of the Prospect Train Depot may soon be underway.

At the direction of the Enhancement Grant Funding Agent and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and extensive negotiations having ensued with the various agencies involved in the Prospect Depot Project, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) has been drafted.

At their June meeting the Prince Edward Board of Supervisors authorized County Administrator Wade Bartlett to sign any and all documents associated with the MOA submittal to the Federal Highway Administration.

In December 2013, there was a failed contractor bid as a result of bids coming in much higher than the allowable budgeted amount. According to the county, this began the need to virtually start over and modify the depot project.

 Beginning in 2001, Prince Edward County contracted with the Prospect Historical Society as the fiduciary agent for the restoration of the old Prospect Depot. The Depot Project has been able to accumulate a total of $600,019 made up of VDOT Enhancement Grants ($501,000) and a Tobacco Commission Southside Economic Development Grant ($99,019).

Currently, Prince Edward County proposes to reconstruct the Prospect Depot, and has determined that the project will require the complete demolition and removal of the ruins of the original depot.

Current plans call for the reconstructed depot to be located in the original location. The new depot will be similar in size, plan, and appearance to the original depot. In addition, modifications to the interior plan of the original depot call for two bathrooms, a janitor closet, and a mechanical room to be constructed at the east end of the reconstructed building.

   “The Prospect Depot was the center of business and life in the village of Prospect from its construction in 1859 until the 1990’s,” said Edwina Covington, member of the Board of Directors for the Prospect Historical Society. “The reconstructed Depot would bring area citizens back together for business and social events plus bring new revenue and other business ventures to the community.”

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