The National Railroad Hall of Fame is ready to start design work on a long-proposed visitor center that would sit on city-owned property near the existing Amtrak station on South Seminary Street.
Aldermen on Monday will be asked to approve a consent to enter property agreement between the city and NRRHOF for property at 225 S. Seminary Street.
Julie King, executive director of the Galesburg-based National Railroad Hall of Fame, tells WGIL that last August the NRRHOF met its groundbreaking goal of $7 million for the visitor center. In the last month, they have have hired the architectural firm of Wight & Company.
Steve Guguliotta, director of community development, said that last week, city officials had an initial virtual meeting with the NRRHOF’s recently hired design professional firm to briefly discuss the site plan, drainage and permit processes.
“The consent to enter property agreement would allow design professionals hired by the NRRHOF to begin preliminary planning, which may include on-site inspections, surveys, soil borings, environmental assessments, and other necessary investigations to gather information for the project’s design,” Gugliotta said.
There is no cost to approve the consent to enter property agreement.
Galesburg City Manager Eric Hanson said the city’s legal department is actively working with attorneys for the NRRHOF on the lease agreement.
NRRHOF has met $7 groundbreaking goal
King said the $7 million raised by the NRRHOF would be enough to cover construction of the building and its exhibits. She said they will continue to raise money for endowment, operating reserved and contingencies.
“The time is just right,” King said. “We have the leverage of city and county support. A lot of or work here at the hall of fame has been building and bolstering a network at the highest levels of the industry across the country, and when we needed them, they stepped up.
“The response of our larger rail industry supports has been very heartening.”
In 2003, resolutions of the US Senate and House of Representatives recognized the project and designated Galesburg as the home of the National Railroad Hall of Fame.
According to its website, the National Railroad Hall of Fame visitor attraction is a unique, railroad-themed destination planned for Galesburg. It says visitors of all ages will be engaged and inspired by the combination of state-of-the-art, interactive exhibits and premium live viewing of Galesburg’s bustling main line freight and passenger service.
More on timeline in ‘early spring’
Designers from the Academy Award-nominated firm BRC Imagination Arts of Burbank, California, and architects from legendary Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings & Merrill have collaborated on a visionary Master Plan to ensure a visitor experience that is second to none.
“We expect the building to look much like the images that have available for sometime now on our website,” King said. “We are in the final design, so there could be a few changes, but in large part, it will be the images everyone is familiar with.”
King said she wasn’t ready to commit to a timeline for groundbreaking or completion.
“We’re moving very quickly and I think we’ll know a lot more by early spring,” King said. “But I would want the architects to weigh in on any timeline for the project.”
