By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A historic transportation depot in downtown Del Rio has gotten a modern-day facelift
and now sports brand-new windows, doors and other features.
The completion of a major portion of the rehabilitation project was celebrated with a
ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. The building, which is locally referred to as “the
depot” or “the transportation depot” or “the train station,” is officially called the Del Rio
Southern Pacific Transportation Depot and is located at 100 W. Ogden St.
Thursday’s ceremony began inside the depot’s spacious main interior space, an area once
used by train passengers coming into and leaving Del Rio.
Peter Ojeda, the city’s communications and marketing director, welcomed those
attending the event.
“This building served as a gateway to Del Rio to welcome travelers, to facilitate
commerce and to transport people and goods,” Ojeda said.
Ojeda next recognized “the many hands and minds” that worked on the rehabilitation
project, including Elsa Reyes, the city’s former transportation
welcomes city council members, city staff and others to a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the
Del Rio Southern Pacific Transportation Depot on Thursday. The ceremony marked the
completion of a major rehabilitation project at the facility, including the replacement of
its doors and arching windows. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
director, who wrote the
original grant for the project; and Bolivar Briones and Doris Martinez, the city’s partners
at the Texas Department of Transportation.
Ojeda also thanked the former city council and the current council, led by Mayor Al
Arreola, Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus, Councilman Randy Quiñones, Councilman Jesus
Lopez Jr., Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez, Councilman J.P. Sanchez and
Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez.
Martinez, Lopez and Gutierrez attended the event, and Alexandra Falcon Calderon,
former city council member, was also present.
Ojeda recognized former and current city staff members who also played roles in the
rehab project, including City Manager Shawna Burkhart, Assistant City Manager Manuel Chavez Transportation Superintendent Rosa Cruz, Community Services Director Esme
Meza, former city finance director Alberta Barrett, Interim Finance Director Linda Coones, Assistant Finance Director Roxy Soto, Grants Coordinator Eric Cooper, Bill O’Quinn, facilities and maintenance; Joel Cary and Bob Klapestky of MIS; Public Works
Director Greg Velazquez, Project Manager Luis Mireles, Purchasing Agent Luis Menchaca and members of the purchasing department staff, Michele Bridges and Melissa
Lopez; Operations and Compliance Manager Scot Carcasi and members of the city’s transportation, parks and facility maintenance and civic facilities departments.
Ojeda also thanked Able City representatives, whose company provided architectural and project management services, and the leadership and staff of JESCO LLC, the general contractor for the work.
“All of them participated to make this day possible,” Ojeda said.
Ojeda then briefly reviewed other projects the city is doing and has completed.
Ojeda next recognized City Purchasing Agent Luis Menchaca, who spoke about the
history of the project and the transportation building.
Menchaca said Able City was the company selected as the managers for the project,
which included overseeing the replacement of the window frames and doors, as well as
working to have the building listed on the National Register of Historic Places, an effort
that is still ongoing.
Menchaca read a portion of the building’s description, as included in the form to have the
building listed on the National Register. He said the brick-and-wood transportation depot
was completed in 1929, replacing an entirely wooden building that had been built in
1884.
Menchaca also spoke about the scope of the project, which included the replacement of
20 windows and seven doors.
Those attending the ceremony also heard from City Manager Shawna Burkhart and
Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr.
Burkhart said, “Thank you for all being here. We certainly want to celebrate this
magnificent historic structure. It is pristine, and thank you so much to all those who put
hands on it and brought it to life. Thank you. We want to take this opportunity to
acknowledge city council for committing to this project where we can have this beautiful
structure, and to TxDOT also. Thank you for all for your work in funding this beautiful
construction.”
Burkhart also thanked the city staff members who worked on the project. “We certain appreciate everything you give to this organization. Finally, we want to
invite you to enjoy this facility as we do. Please stay today and fellowship with us as we
enjoy this structure and bring this to life for our community. Thank you for all being
here,” the city manager added.
Ojeda said he hopes the community will make use of the facility, then said Community
Services Director Esme Meza would lead those present in the cutting of a symbolic
ribbon outside the front doors of the depot.
Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. also spoke to the group, saying the building “belongs to the
citizens of Del Rio” and noted that it long served as a transportation hub for the area.
One of the citizens attending the event, Lydia Esparza, said she is appreciative of the
building’s transformation.
Esparza said, “I travel often on Amtrak, because I have a sister who lives in El Paso, and
I have really enjoyed that, because I get to go by my alma mater in Alpine. I think the
building is really beautiful. I can’t believe how good it looks.”
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
