Save the Depot

In the Oct. 28 article “Del Mar Depot Faces Closure, Demolition,” I read both good news and bad. The good news is that a decision has finally been reached as to a location for the Del Mar/Solana Beach station on the Oceanside-San Diego commuter train. Del Mar has gotten what it deserves for its incredible myopic and self-centered attitude about this project (i.e., no station in Del Mar).

The very bad news is the abandonment and proposed destruction of the Del Mar depot. I can’t think of any reason to tear it down just because it’s not going to be used by Amtrak anymore. We already have in San Diego County some excellent examples of railroad depot reuse (chambers of commerce, restaurants, museums, etc.). And Del Mar’s 1912 structure is certainly deserving of some reasonable study for alternative uses. I understand that the model railroad group that uses a facility at the Del Mar Fairgrounds will soon need a new home, for example.

Historic preservation has been (I thought) on the increase, even in Southern California. How can it possibly be justified to take away a building that stands not only for almost 80 years of railroad service to Del Mar but which can also be used for something else with minimal conversion or restoration?

JIM PRICE

San Diego