Sykesville council approves station improvements, agrees to consider $350,000 town contribution

Sykesville — The mayor and town council on Sept. 9 unanimously approved proposed improvements to the historic train depot and agreed to pursue a plan that could include up to $350,000 in town participation to help fund building work.

The council approved the project after a presentation from the lessee’s team, which outlined a multi-stage plan that includes a separate post-and-beam platform structure adjacent to the protected depot, a lowered freight-room floor for accessibility, an expanded commercial-grade kitchen footprint outside the original station wall, and new operable windows in the platform area. Dante, the lessee’s representative, said the design intentionally keeps the platform structurally independent of the historic station “so we’re not stressing the building” to comply with Maryland Historic Trust (MHT) requirements.

Why it matters: The improvements are intended to preserve the protected structure while making the space usable and accessible for a commercial tenant. The lessee’s design team estimated major line-item costs—“somewhere around $540,000” for the platform windows and framing and roughly $94,000 to lower and reframe the freight-room floor—contributing to an overall investment forecast the presenters said would exceed $1,000,000.

Council moved through three staff-recommended actions. First, members approved the proposed improvements as presented with the caveat that this approval does not waive required site plan, historic-district, or building-permit approvals. Second, the council voted to approve consideration of town financial participation in the construction effort in an amount not to exceed $350,000 and directed staff to present a recommended financing plan at the Sept. 23 meeting. Town staff noted the FY25 budget already includes $125,000 in ARPA funds identified for the project.

Third, the council approved a first amendment to the lease. Town staff described the amendment as clarifying the construction period and abatement timeline: the amendment treats the period from Dec. 1, 2023, through July 1, 2025, as construction time, delays the chargeable rent start date and extends abatement provisions so rent enforcement would not begin until July 1, 2026, in the modified schedule. Staff explained the abatement formula being applied: each $50,000 of tenant investment equates to one year of rent abatement (for example, $150,000 would equate to three years), and the lease term has been extended to accommodate larger tenant investments up to the ordinance maximum.

Council members pressed staff on financing options, asking whether the town would use unencumbered fund balance, reallocate existing grants, or pursue state grant sources through DHCD; staff said existing state and county economic development channels and grant timing would be considered and that the financing plan would be returned on Sept. 23. The council also discussed sublease approval mechanisms and reiterated that standard breach protections remain in town lease language.

The project team said they were nearing submission of final construction drawings and hoped permitting review could be completed in roughly 45 days so construction could begin and the tenant could target an opening in the spring (targeting April–May timeframe). Final MHT sign-off remains required after engineering details and materials are submitted.

What’s next: Staff will present a recommended financing plan at the Sept. 23 council meeting. Final approvals for site plan, local historic-district review and building permits remain required before construction can begin.