Locals push back on plans to demolish historic Seaboard Station

The multi-million dollar, mixed-use project is currently in phase one of the redevelopment process. The historic train station was built during WWII, serving Raleigh for decades before transitioning into a retail and dining space. Currently, Logan's Garden Shop is in the space.

The current plans propose 130,000 square feet of retail and apartment units across several buildings of up to 20 stories.

The current conceptual plans show a 12-story parking deck where the historic train station stands today.

"It would be tragic for [Seaboard Station] to be torn down and replaced by one more box with no soul," one public commenter said. "No, this fine building should be the centerpiece of the new development."

Another person who spoke on Tuesday said Seaboard Station had served as "the scene of millions of greetings, farewells, journeys beginnings and journeys ends."

Two of the groups working on the redesign said they may change the proposal based on public comments.

“Current plans are to not retain the station," said Jamie Schwedler, with Parker Poe Attorneys & Counselors at Law. "But we are at the beginning of the process. We are here to listen."

They showed renderings of how they envision the new development looking, but told the public they are at the very beginning of the process. Development could take years.

"Please do not rob us of this wonderful landmark," said one commenter, a man named Matthew Brown who lives nearby. "And please know that we cannot let it go without a fight."

The Seaboard train station originally opened in 1942 as a train depot and warehouse buildings, serving travelers until 1986. It sat abandoned until the Logan family purchased and restored the property.

Public speakers at the meeting praised Seaboard Station as proof that historic preservation and growing successful modern retail space could go hand-in-hand. For many people, the building's history as a popular retail and dining space holds as much nostalgia as the history of the train station itself.

Gaston Williams, chair of the Raleigh Historic Development Commission, spoke on the train station's historic significance, saying, "Men and women went to war from Seaboard Station,” he said. “Rather than destroy history, let’s find a way to honor it and save it. It’s not going to be easy. We hope that the developers and architects will find a way to incorporate the Seaboard Station as a feature in the larger development."

He said he hopes the historic train station and popular Logan's will not be remembered "as just the former location on which you build a parking lot."