SALISBURY — Norfolk Southern Railroad began tearing down the old freight depot on North Lee Street this morning.
Brian Davis, executive director for Historic Salisbury Foundation, said despite his request, the railroad did not notify historic preservationists before demolition began at 9 a.m., so nothing was salvaged from the building.
Davis estimated taking down the large depot, which measures 45 feet by 200 feet, will take about a week.
The railroad considered the depot a liability and could not allow it to remain in place, an official told the Post in May. Vacant since 2007, the building was the site of increased amounts of trespassing and safety issues, said Matthew Jones, Norfolk Southern property manager for North Carolina.
The depot stands alone in the “wye” formed by the tracks going north-south and west.
The foundation proposed a plan to take over ownership of the building and leave it where it is. The group would have installed a fence for security and used the facility as the new location for the Salisbury farmers market and an architectural salvage warehouse, he said.
The railroad did not reply to the proposal, he said.
Read more in Wednesday’s Post.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.