OLYMPIA - The City of Hoquiam was recognized for an "Outstanding Achievement in Design" at the 23rd Annual Downtown Revitalization Training Institute awards banquet last night in Vancouver, Wash. The City was recognized for renovation of their historic train depot and was among eight projects honored. "The City of Hoquiam's achievement represents the hard work taking place across the state to strengthen our downtown communities," said Rogers Weed, director of the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED). "I congratulate them on their dedication and commitment to creating vibrant communities and growing Washington's economy." In 1989, a local citizens group called "Save the Train Station" began working with the City of Hoquiam to first save their community's 1911 historic railroad station from being destroyed, and then see it restored. After years of dedication to the project, in 2008, it became a reality.
Architects from the firm Street Lundgren and Foster used the original construction documents as their guide. The original wood floor in the ticket office along with the wood detailing around windows, door jambs, and casings throughout the building were restored. The exterior received touch-up plaster and a fresh coat of paint. The dormer ends and gables were refinished. To accommodate the building's future tenant, the Department of Licensing, new partition walls were designed to complement the historic details and mask standard office furniture. The total cost of the renovation was $1.5 million, mostly covered through Federal Transportation Enhancement grants along with gifts from the Weyerhaeuser Foundation and the Cheney Foundation. Today, the train depot again functions as a major attraction at the entrance to downtown Hoquiam, bringing more than 2,500 visitors per month to the Department of Licensing office. The depot success story has also served as a catalyst to help revitalize the downtown core. Developers have purchased two vacant, historic structures to renovate and house a hotel, restaurant, spa, retail shops, and other downtown tenants. "The City of Hoquiam strongly believes that preservation and revitalization of the downtown core is vital to our continued existence, our community identity, and our future green economy," said City Planner Alissa Thurman. The Downtown Revitalization Training Institute and the "Excellence in Downtown Revitalization" awards are organized by CTED. CTED is the lead state agency charged with enhancing and promoting sustainable community and economic vitality in Washington. For more information, visit http://www.cted.wa.gov/">http://www.cted.wa.gov/.
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