Built in 1912, the city-owned Tampa Union Station shelters passengers waiting for or departing from Amtrak trains pulling into Tampa.
And thanks to an endowment funded by donations raised by the
Friends of Tampa Union Station and matched by the
Community Foundation of Tampa Bay, the station will enjoy recurring revenue each year to support its maintenance and needed renovations. The endowment principal is currently $50,000.
Friends of Tampa Union Station President Jackson McQuigg says that it's a great start toward preserving the historic landmark.
"The money for the building is modest at this point,'' McQuigg admits. "But this is a start. We have an endowment now where there wasn't one before. It's one more source of revenue that will support that building. A building this old requires constant renovation. The station is owned by the city of Tampa, which has parts of it under lease. This helps support those streams of income.
"This endowment is preserved forever and will grow over time as the principal grows and new donations are added," continues McQuigg. The endowment will spin off income each year for restoration projects around the station."
Needed renovations include improvements to the baggage building, rejuvenating exhibits and various paint and repair projects.
McQuigg is proud of the community's efforts on behalf of the
Tampa Union Station.
"This was truly a grassroots fundraising campaign. And we were amazed by the response," he says. "Donations came in through the mail, from our website, and via
Facebook from all parts of the country."
Writer:
Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Jackson McQuigg, Friends of Tampa Union Station
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