Everglades City old railroad depot is 'eyesore' and officials want action now

J. Kyle Foster, Naples Daily News
·4 min read
Everglades City's old Railroad Depot building has been sitting in disrepair for eight years. Mayor Howie Grimm Jr. and city council members want action now; owner Bill Odrey says he is determined to save the building but need money and time.
Everglades City's old Railroad Depot building has been sitting in disrepair for eight years. Mayor Howie Grimm Jr. and city council members want action now; owner Bill Odrey says he is determined to save the building but need money and time.

Everglades City officials, locals and an outsider who owns a part of the community's history all agree they want to save the old Railroad Depot building – they just don't agree on the how or the when.

Bill Odrey, who lives in Atlanta, bought the property on Collier Avenue in 2014 for $450,000, according to property records. He made some repairs and a lot of big plans. He had the outdoor area, restrooms and kitchen open until eight years ago. Since then, Hurricanes Irma, Ian and Idalia came through, along with COVID. National Guard members used the property for staging during Irma. Ian last year took down much of the deck and docks. There's a large hole in the roof that can be seen from the road.

"The building was in need of maintenance when we got it," Odrey said in a phone interview. "Hurricane Ian really did it in."

Odrey said he hasn't been able to get financing to replace the roof, make repairs and remodel the building. He said he has a mortgage in good standing but can't get a loan on a business that's not running. There are people who want to buy the building to tear down and replace with condos, he said.

"The building is too beautiful to waste it on that," Odrey said. "It's one of the most beautiful places in Everglades City," on the water and quiet, Odrey said. "I put a lot of money in it. It doesn't look like it now. ... I just have to finish it somehow. I just feel like I'm supposed to do this."

Depot opened in 1928

Everglades City's old Railroad Depot building has been sitting in disrepair for eight years. Mayor Howie Grimm Jr. and city council members want action now; owner Bill Odrey says he is determined to save the building but need money and time.
Everglades City's old Railroad Depot building has been sitting in disrepair for eight years. Mayor Howie Grimm Jr. and city council members want action now; owner Bill Odrey says he is determined to save the building but need money and time.

The depot was used by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, which opened the depot in 1928, according to historical records. The railroad line ran from Immokalee to Everglades City from 1928–1956.  It carried freight and passengers.  The station was closed in the 1956.  Later, it was converted into a restaurant called the Old Station Restaurant.  After that, other restaurants used the depot, including Everglades Seafood Depot and Restaurant and Everglades Outdoor Center.

Is the depot dangerous, ready to collapse?

Sitting in his office in City Hall Friday, Mayor Howie Grimm Jr. said he wants to save the building too, if it's possible.

"That's the question," he said. "We want to know if it's safe or fixable."

Odrey hasn't given the city an engineering report or proof the building won't collapse, Grimm said. City Council members and citizens noticed children playing on the property and someone living in the building, he said.That's when code enforcement got involved, sending a letter to Odrey to mow the lawn, put up a fence to keep people out and no trespassing signs. Grimm then asked Collier County officials to send out an engineer to inspect the building.

Prior to Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022, the old Railroad Depot in Everglades City had a useable patio for a restuarant.
Prior to Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022, the old Railroad Depot in Everglades City had a useable patio for a restuarant.

The result was that the building is dangerous and needs immediate repairs or demolition. Odrey was given 30 days to comply - that was 14 days ago.

"Nobody's against him (Odrey), but we have an obligation to see it safe and it can't be an eyesore," Grimm said.

Latest development: Code enforcement asked Odrey for a plan

Friday afternoon, Odrey received a call from the head of the city's code enforcement, Terry Smallwood. He asked Odrey to submit a plan and a timeline as the next step. Odrey said he was very pleased with the call and saw it as a great sign the building can be saved.

"There's nothing like that little building there," Odrey said. "I'm not giving up. Somehow something will happen. We've been praying for it."

Glenda Hancock, a lifetime resident of Everglades City and Chokoloskee, stands on the dilapidated deck of the old Railroad Depot in Everglades City on Sept. 1, 2023. She has been helping the building's owner in trying to save it.
Glenda Hancock, a lifetime resident of Everglades City and Chokoloskee, stands on the dilapidated deck of the old Railroad Depot in Everglades City on Sept. 1, 2023. She has been helping the building's owner in trying to save it.

Mayor says donate the building

Grimm suggested Odrey donate the building to the Everglades Society for Historical Preservation.

"I would love to get it fixed. I think the only way it's going to get done is to donate it," Grimm said. "He's trying to hold on. He's trying to get someone to give him the money. ... I would love to see him donate it to the historical society and they can restore it. They can get grants."

National Guard members used the old Railroad Depot in Everglades City as a staging area during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
National Guard members used the old Railroad Depot in Everglades City as a staging area during Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Glenda Hancock, who married a local at 17 and has been a resident since, is trying to help Odrey and the community save the building. She attended city meetings for Odrey while he has been in Atlanta and arranged for mowing and other work to comply with code enforcement.

"It's almost the last bit of history left in Everglades City," Hancock said as she walked around the depot. "It's just like a piece of art. ... I don't think it's Mr. Odrey's objection to take away from the city. He wants to add to it. We just want to see it up and running and remain a piece of Everglades history."

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Everglades city mayor wants action now on railroad depot