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Friends of Gladstone Depot seek county support; staff to apply for DHR historic district grant
Summary
Friends of Gladstone Depot requested county help and county staff will apply for a DHR historic district survey and planning grant tied to FEMA-4401; project funding remains uncertain though some solar-site funds have been set aside.
Friends of Gladstone Depot president Joanne Absher asked the Board on Oct. 14 to support relocation and phased restoration of the Gladstone Depot, citing a current community estimate of roughly $3.2 million for a full phased project and noting previous VTAP grant complications.
County Administrator Candice McGarry said the County has received $112,000 tied to a site agreement for the Gladstone solar project and earlier anticipated two additional $1 million payments at major permitting milestones (site-plan approval and building-permit issuance) scheduled around January 2027, though she cautioned those funds are not guaranteed until project construction milestones are secured.
Separately, McGarry reported that the Department of Historic Resources (DHR) is administering an Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund grant (linked to FEMA declaration 4401) that could fully fund survey and planning work for a Gladstone Rural Historic District without a local match; the Board authorized staff to prepare and submit an application, with proposals due Nov. 7, 2025 and completion required by March 2027.
Supervisors expressed support for preserving the depot but emphasized the need to break the project into defined phases (moving/ foundation, restoration, programming) and asked for more detailed cost‑breakdowns and timelines before committing county funds.
Next steps: staff to file a DHR ESHPF grant application for Gladstone district survey and planning, and Friends of Gladstone Depot to supply phased cost estimates (foundation/move first) for Board consideration of future funding.
