The City of Moline could move one step closer to the demolition of a 115-year-old train depot. Alderman will vote tonight on letting city staff prepare documents to sell the historic railroad depot on River Drive to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Barb Sandberg, from the Moline Preservation Society, says last month, the state announced it will not pay to move the depot, to make way for the new I-74 bridge. And now, the Illinois-DOT says a final sale must be completed by the end of December, so demolition can begin in the summer.
She says that won't give the preservation society enough time to salvage any of the building.
If she can't save the entire building, Sandberg wants to salvage the clock on front of the depot, along with other historic pieces. But that could be impossible, because the state wants any salvaging done by December 15th.
But the preservation society hasn't completely given up on finding a buyer for the building. She says a buyer is interested and has a new location ready for the depot. But, neither party has the half-a-million-dollars needed to actually move it.
The Moline Preservation Society is also meeting with Illinois Senator Neil Anderson, from Rock Island. Sandberg says he supports saving the train depot, and could help push back the deadline for demolition.
If plans move forward tonight, alderman could give final approval of the sale next month. And, if the Moline City Council decides to sell the depot for $500, the Illinois-DOT would ask for bids for demolition in the spring.