NEXT STOP: DEPOT FACE LIFT.

Byline: Paul O'Donoghue Staff Writer

Santa Paula's city fathers are hoping to recapture a bit of the city's prosperous 19th century past by sprucing up the old railroad depot as part of an overall plan to restore the downtown area for tourism.

Most of the depot has been closed for the past few years because of rotten floorboards, inadequate access and bathrooms and other problems, officials said.

But thanks to $362,725 in county community development block grants, work is due to begin next month that will renovate the old depot on 10th Street with an electric ramp for the disabled and new floors and bathrooms among many other improvements, officials said.

``What we're trying to do is make the building useful for the public and better maintained, and hopefully beautify the whole city because certain of our buildings have been neglected,'' said Mayor Rich Cook.

``It's a historic landmark and one of the few (depots) left in the county that's in its original state. Anything we can do to help our citizens and have a nice place and attract people is what it's all about.''

In fact, the redwood depot, built in 1887 when the Southern Pacific Railroad first came through the city, is the only depot still on its original site in the county, officials said.

Designated a county historical landmark in 1972, it forms part of a historical core that includes The Mill, the Glen Tavern and the Main Street commercial area, as well as the California Walnut Growers Association building and First Christian Church, officials said.

Currently, part of the depot is used by the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce.

And the old depot regularly figures in paintings, TV programs, commercials and even the occasional movie, said Santa Paula Community Services Director John Keisler.

``It'll be used on the average of four times a year for commercials or movies or still shots,'' said Keisler. ``And it's not only historical but a focal point for the community, along with the California Oil Museum. Those are two of the probably most historic and important buildings in the city.

``Visitors love it and there aren't too many of these historic depots in California, and this one happens to be in the same location where it was built.''

Owned by the Santa Paula Community Trust, the depot, which is about 100 feet long by 20 feet wide, is at the west end of the popular Fillmore and Western Railroad's tourist train line between Santa Paula and Fillmore.

Like the other SPRR depots, Santa Paula's depot was prefabricated to standard specifications in Sacramento and transported by rail to its present location, where it served the town during its boom with the citrus and oil industries. As was the custom in those days, the station master and his family lived in the upstairs apartment of the building.

Santa Paula Vice Mayor Don Johnson said the project is the latest phase in redeveloping the downtown area that so far has cost about $5 million and has included putting in new public lights, sidewalks, trees, landscaping and areas paved with brick and benches.

``It's a tourist issue and the railroad has to arrive at a destination and Santa Paula is it,'' said Johnson.

``And so we'd just love to have those folks that ride the train from Fillmore get off in Santa Paula and use our restaurants and shops, and we want to ensure they have a nice visit and come back again. We want them to come back; it's a tourist thing, we want them to spend more money here.''

Plans are under way to develop the area around the depot into a railroad plaza that will include a park running along the railroad as well as a bicycle path, said Johnson.

Last week, the City Council approved earmarking the final $80,000 portion of the $362,725 bid on the project that will be done by Granada Hills-based construction company NBM Group, which came in with the lowest bid. Construction is scheduled to begin about the middle of January.

Johnson said that Santa Paula, like many other small cities, suffers from leakage of sales tax dollars to other larger cities. That is caused when residents shop in big box retailers out of town. A case in point, he said, is the Pacific View Mall that opened in Ventura just before Thanksgiving that draws shoppers from Santa Paula. It's a problem because cities rely to an increasing degree on sales tax to pay for city services, he said.

However, the depot is part of a move to position the city to bring back tourists and business to the city.

``I think when that project is completed it will be a real asset to this community and will be another attraction for tourists when they come into town,'' said Johnson.

``And when you pull into town, you're brought back in time and brought into a city that's steeped in history. I think it's a very unique area and it's going to be a remarkable asset to the city and its citizens.''

CAPTION(S):

3 photos

Photo: (1 -- color in Simi and Conejo) Mayor Richard Cook stands next to the Santa Paula train depot, which will be renovated with county community development block grants.

(2 -- color in Simi and Conejo) The Santa Paula train depot, built in 1887 of redwood, is the only depot still on its original site in the county.

(3 -- ran in Simi and Conejo only) An elevator will be installed in the baggage room of the Santa Paula train depot, one of may improvements scheduled.

Joe Binoya/Special to the Daily News