(The Venice Gondolier posted the following article on its website on August 18.)
VENICE, Fla. — There are some big plans for a certain little train depot in Venice — even though it is already on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sarasota County officials are thinking out of the box.
“We are exploring a long-term strategy of packaging a concession opportunity for the train depot with Caspersen Beach and the Venetian Waterway Park,” Sarasota County Parks and Recreation General Manager John McCarthy said. “Rent bikes at the depot, kayaks at Caspersen (Beach) … .”
McCarthy said the planning is purely conceptual at this point.
“No final decisions have been made and coordination and planning is needed to ensure that SCAT’s needs are met,” he said, “since the federal transportation funds were critical in the funding of the renovation.”
Three-and-one-half years ago when the $2.3 million renovation was completed, early planners had visualized food and beverage concessions, perhaps even a museum and farmer’s market.
The depot’s only use presently is as a transfer station for Sarasota County Area Transit.
Gourmet dining, no; sandwiches, maybe
While anything can happen, don’t look for a full-service, sit-down restaurant at the historic depot.
“The depot construction and renovation does not lend itself to full-blown food preparation,” McCarthy said. “There’s no plumbing for it, no venting, no opportunity for grease-based cooking and very limited space for food preparation, large coolers, that kind of thing.”
Additionally, the depot’s status on the National Register brings with it restrictions on what can and cannot go into the 80-year-old structure.
As one official said, “You just can’t throw a Burger King in there.”
McCarthy said the current thinking in the food department is cold drinks and light food — perhaps prepared off-site, perhaps not.
“There may even be an opportunity to include this with the Venice Beach concession,” McCarthy said. “That will be coming up for proposals within a year.”
The current concession agreement at Venice Beach expires on Jan. 13, 2007.
McCarthy said preserving the depot’s legacy is a priority.
“There will still be an opportunity for the historical society to have exhibits and tours,” he said. “And, there will be an opportunity for a gift shop and various trail-related sundries.”
The depot was built in 1926 by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. It was last used by the Seaboard Coastlines Railroad in 1972.