The Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation has set a goal to raise $3 million for the restoration of the Wilkinsburg Train Station. The fundraising effort kicked off officially with a ceremony Oct. 6. Nearly 50 people turned out for the event including Wilkinsburg Council members, business owners and residents.

The 11,300-square-foot train station on Hay Street, built in 1916, has been vacant for nearly 40 years. The WCDC along with Allegheny County and the Borough of Wilkinsburg are working to turn the station back into a usable space. It is currently owned by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

The WCDC, working with its partners, has established the WCDC Holding Company to manage the restoration project and has secured initial funding including a $1 million grant from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

“Our vision is that the train station building will house a business or businesses that are open to the community, transit-oriented and stable,” said Tracey Evans, executive director of the WCDC.

“The main focus for the campaign is to raise $3 million by the end of this year to get the train station building up to code and tenant-ready during 2017,” Ms. Evans said.

She said some potential ideas include a restaurant or cafe, public transit access and a Port Authority kiosk, a bike share program, a bike shop, display/gallery space for local artists, and/or community event space.

“We will begin a tenanting strategy to determine the best commercial fit for the size and location of the building,” Ms. Evans said.

Donations to the project can be made at www.WilkStation.org

Deana Carpenter, freelance writer: suburbanliving@post-gazette.com.

First Published: October 14, 2016, 4:00 a.m.