Old depot may find new life with Bike Time

October 25, 2007
By Dave Alexander
Muskegon Chronicle Business Editor

Muskegon Bike Time would like to take up offices in the downtown area by relocating the former Grand Trunk depot building.

Bike Time supporter and Hot Rod Harley Davidson co-owner Dr. Mark Campbell has offered to buy the county-owned 1,200-square-foot historic structure now at 691 W. Western. Bike Time was a wildly successful, first-time motorcycle event in downtown Muskegon last July.

The intention is to relocate the structure -- built in 1908 as an interurban railroad ticket and freight office -- somewhere further east to the vicinity of West Western Avenue and Terrace Street, Campbell said. The depot has been vacant since 1968.

Muskegon Bike Time would like to move its offices into the depot, according to Sam Wendling, director of economic development for Muskegon County.

"What I am excited about is that Dr. Campbell has the ability to move the depot building and set it up as Bike Time offices, keeping its historic nature," Wendling said.

The Muskegon County Board of Commissioners Tuesday unanimously accepted Campbell's offer, with a sale price of $30,000. Relocation and renovation costs will be Campbell's, who has until March to complete the property deal.

Campbell said the deal is contingent on finding a suitable site with adequate parking that was financially reasonable for the investment to renovate the depot.

The county bought the abandoned depot from Muskegon Cast Products, an adjacent industrial business. The county used a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Muskegon County to make the purchase in 2000 and then spent $14,000 for a new roof.

Wendling said the county bought the depot to preserve the historic structure and potentially move it across Shoreline Drive to Heritage Landing for a festival ticket office.

The county explored such a move in 2004 and received a moving bid of $30,000, not including the cost of preparing the site for the building. Wendling said the money could not be raised for those plans.

The problem with the building's current location is that it is on a postage-stamp-size lot.

"The issue from the beginning has been parking if it were to be used where it is," Wendling said.

In selling to Campbell, the county has agreed to split the proceeds -- $20,000 going to the foundation and $10,000 remaining with the county, Wendling said.

© 2007 Muskegon Chronicle. Used with permission