GREENSBORO, N.C. — The North Carolina Railroad Co. will purchase a 123-year-old Southern Railway station in Greensboro for “preservation and beneficial redevelopment,” the company announced Monday.
The masonry structure at 400 S. Elm Street, currently owned by Norfolk Southern, was built in 1899 and is in a downtown district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, making it eligible for state and federal historic-preservation tax credits.
“The North Carolina Railroad Co. is proud to play a part in preserving and revitalizing this historic landmark,” CEO Carl Warren said in a press release. “We’re always looking for opportunities for the railroad to improve the lives of the people of North Carolina.”
The Greensboro News & Record reports the deal for the building is expected to close Aug. 12. A price was not announced. The railroad will partner with the Preservation Greensboro Development Fund and Downtown Greensboro Inc. on the project.
While the building is structurally sound, it has seen significant modifications over the years, losing its peaked roof, a third floor, and a prominent conical tower on one corner, and has had the size of its windows reduced.
The North Carolina Railroad Co. is a private company, although one with 100% of its stock owned by the state, chartered in 1849 for economic development. It manages a 317-mile rail corridor from Charlotte to Morehead City.
This building was also the Eastern Division of the Southern Railway offices. And just around the corner was a fine model railway shop-Mini Railroad Shop, oh to return to those days!!! Just of luck in restoring this old structure.
As rail line goes appears just about 1000 feet from current Amtrak station. But about 6 -8 twisting blocks betweem the two stations.
Not much left esthetically, if you look at the current photos in the link. Seems it would be very costly to restore any semblance of the original station. Good luck!
I looked it up. I’ve been past that station hundreds of times on a train. Didn’t know it was a former passenger station. That entire area was once covered with rail facilities
I’m curious why the NCRR would be buying this. And I didn’t even know there were two Southern stations in Greensboro.
Durand, Mi. clone??
Yup, I live near the Durand depot….pretty close resemblance….
I was confused there for a moment. This is not the station in that’s in use — at 300 E. Washington Street — a very handsome and beautifully restored structure in its own right. Next time I’m in the area I’ll have to check this out!
The article that’s linked to features a number of fine old historic views of the Elm Street structure.