AIKEN -- The decade-long project for the Aiken Railroad Depot could be close to becoming a city of Aiken project.
City council members will vote on a memorandum of understanding Aug. 9 to take over the public-private partnership from the Aiken Corporation and Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot.
Through accommodations and 1-cent sales tax revenue, the city has contributed $1 million to the $3 million project.
The last $500,000 contribution from the city's portion of 1-cent local option sales tax was approved by the sales tax commission Monday, and only has to get voters' OK in November as part of a more than $100 million referendum for Aiken County.
The project began in the late 1990s as an idea to rebuild a replica of the depot that was constructed in 1899 on the corner of Park Avenue and Union Street.
The station was demolished in 1953 as the building began to deteriorate and passenger use dwindled.
City Manager Roger LeDuc said the project started out under $1 million, but grew to the $3 million idea as railroad cars, a baggage area and a kitchen and catering area were added to the plans.
The facility will also house the Aiken Visitor's Center.
The city council considered the issue several times, but split votes reflected concerns about whether Aiken should be in the business of creating a rental facility.
Former city council member Jane Vaughters, who regularly vetoed funding the project -- along with former member Dick Smith -- said she and many of her constituents never saw the depot as an essential function of city government.
"We thought it was so important we tore it down," she said.
Depot champions and Leduc see the project as the next phase to enhancing downtown Aiken, much like Hopelands Gardens and the Rye Patch and Citizens Park.
Both were also protest projects that passed with 4-3 votes by city council, LeDuc said.
"It will become an anchor for that side of town and a destination location," he said. "We got the foundation and basis, and over the next several years we'll add to it."
If the city approves taking the deed, the Aiken Corporation and Friends of the Railroad Depot will assume responsibility for an $800,000 loan and create a nonprofit organization to assist in facility upkeep.
The $800,000 will come from uncollected pledges, said Tim Simmons, with the All Aboard committee that oversees fundraising.
Simmons said seeing the depot has reignited interest in the project, which for so long was just a few drawings of ideas.
"People will see how educational and entertaining it really is, and that area of town will hopefully start redeveloping," he said.
The grand opening will be held Sept. 18.
This is the biggest waste of taxpayer money. There are so many people that could be helped with $3,000,000- like the Cumbee Center, or a free clinic for uninsured people- and they spend it on a train depot. A train depot, for Pete's sake.
"People will see how educational and entertaining it really is, and that area of town will hopefully start redeveloping," he said."
Hasn't Aiken learned any lessons from Augusta?
Destination location? lol. This is just another shining example of big tax and big spend Republicans in actions. Their lack of fiscal responsibility is despicable. Hopefully the residents of Aiken will vote down the tax referendums in November.
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