So it seems that Amtrak is moving as many stations off the books as possible and with the large terminals they cannot move they are attempting to develop them to the point where they turn a profit instead of requiring a subsidy from Amtrak. I think this is a good idea. However, I think Amtrak should take it a step further and help those that have taken on ownership of their former stations into also making them cost neutral. I noticed in Wisconsin, they sold the Milwaukee Depot to the WisDOT and they in turn have a private firm managing it and it's various leases.......perhaps this had to be done to get it to intermodal status. However, I think the Milwaukee Depot is too small a building with too little retail space to be reasonably self- supporting. Even the upper floors currently leased to CPRail, I do not think are going to be enough to keep it in the black. So a recent turn of events with the Post Office next door contemplating leaving it's facility I think presents a Golden Opportunity to combine the USPS with the Amtrak station into one leased facility. The State DOT should consider buying the USPS at the end of this year when it's lease is up. You can easily turn that into mostly retail or officespace and finally have enough under one property to make some serious money as a leasee. It would also afford Amtrak space for further expansion if it wants to. For example, I think it makes sense for Amtrak to expand to the second floor of the depot for use as a larger waiting room and more retail space for restaurants and the like and connect the new meszanine overpass to the second floor. Right now in the whole depot there is only room for ONE restaurant of not very much square footage and because of the lack of demand at that location the restaurant there has to be currently subsidized......which is sad.
Well my idea might be a little late for the Milwaukee Post Office next door to the Milwaukee Amtrak station but I think both buildings should be merged into the same management company since the USPS is huge and the Amtrak station is so small. Just a suggestion.
http://www.jsonline.com/business/chicago-developer-buys-downtown-milwaukee-post-office-building-b99594951z1-332082592.html
Although I am not familiar with that location, wouldn't the lack of demand for even one small restaurant now (market target being Amtrak customers and CP office staff upstairs) preclude more restaurants? I doubt if many people use the "waiting area" for long since they aren't changing trains there.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
schlimm Although I am not familiar with that location, wouldn't the lack of demand for even one small restaurant now (market target being Amtrak customers and CP office staff upstairs) preclude more restaurants? I doubt if many people use the "waiting area" for long since they aren't changing trains there.
Well I don't have a clue if it is the small size (restaurant is limited in size by square footage) or lack of demand..........it is probably the latter. Nobody has been able to make it work in the small space in the Amtrak Depot. Just up the street they have several restaurants open in the third ward but they also have shops there. If they choose to make the post office a retail complex or retail destination it would mean more foot traffic and maybe more choices closer to the Depot.
There are always people complaining about the lack of places to eat at the Amtak Depot though and I am guessing it is mostly bus passengers or transfers to the bus. The current Mayor of Milwaukee was one of the biggest complainers there was no sit down restaurant in the Depot. He thought it should have been one of the goals of restoration. So they finally convinced a Mexican place to reside there but the owner said before he opened he would probably lose money there and was just opening at the Amtrak depot on a chance it might improve in the future.
Rio Grande Valley, CFI,CFII
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