Coraopolis Railroad Station
Website:
http://www.coraopolistrainstationproject.org/
Telephone Number:
(412) 329-8247
Location:
304 Mill Street, Coraopolis, PA 15108
Description:
The Coraopolis station, situated in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, is an abandoned train station constructed in 1896 by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. Designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by architects Shepley, Rutan, and Coolidge, its architectural significance in the Pittsburgh area has been noted by the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. Together with its sister stations in Glassport and New Castle, it was part of an expansion of the railroad's commuter line into the Pittsburgh suburbs during the late 1890s.
Recognized for its historical value, the building was nominated for the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and officially listed on April 20, 1979, under the name Coraopolis Railroad Station. Despite being owned by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad at the time, it was being utilized by an auto equipment dealer.
In 1999, the Coraopolis Economic Revitalization Corporation, Inc. (CERC) proposed a redevelopment plan for the station, envisioning it as the centerpiece of a future development that would include a museum and a "Coraopolis Station Square." Designated as a Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmark on December 10, 2012, the station's potential conversion into a trailside café seating 75 people and a history museum has been under discussion. Estimated to cost $1.2 million in 2014, efforts toward this goal received a boost in 2015 when the Coraopolis Community Development Foundation raised $5000 for structure stabilization, with work commencing on October 24, 2015.
Furthermore, the foundation has sought additional funding through a $250,000 Community Infrastructure and Tourism Fund grant from the Allegheny County Economic Development office to advance the project. Positioned adjacent to the future Ohio River Greenway Trail and connected to the Montour Trail Extension at Coraopolis/Neville Island Bridge, the station holds promise as a significant historical and recreational site.
