Historic Train Depot Leased Back to City
The Ventura County Transportation Commission on Friday agreed to lease the historic Santa Paula Railroad Depot back to the city of Santa Paula for the next 99 years.
The agreement calls for the city to pay the transit panel $1 a year through 2095.
The deal came as Transportation Commission members followed through with an agreement reached last year, when Santa Paula agreed to contribute $500,000 toward the purchase of the Santa Paula Branch Line, a 32-mile railway corridor the commission bought from Southern Pacific last year.
The depot is included in the 32-mile railway corridor.
Santa Paula planners are working on redevelopment plans that would see the four-block stretch of property renovated to include restaurants, shops and other upscale attractions.
Plans call for developing an elaborate bike trail along the 32-mile stretch of track, which leads from Piru to Ventura.
The historic Fillmore Movie Train also will extend its route after the tracks are upgraded, officials said.
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