Owner of Phoenix’s Union Station Eyeing Redevelopment

Phoenix’s long-vacant Union Station could become a new events venue, reports Corina Vanek for the Associated Press. The building, which once served as the main entry point to the city, has languished since it was decommissioned as a train station in 1996.

Now, the new owner wants to transform the facility into a mixed-use events venue with restaurants, offices, and a film studio. Rivulet Films, a company owned by new Union Station owner Aaron Klusman, has plans to locate offices and production studios on the site.

Mo Stein, principal and director of HKS Architects, the project designer and architect, says the plan includes an event lawn, upgrades to existing buildings, and potentially a residential building, but plans have yet to be finalized.

Christine Mackay, the city’s community and economic development director, supports the preservation of the historic buildings on the site. According to Mackay, the station could become a focal point for redevelopment in the area, much like Union Station served as an economic engine for Phoenix in the city’s early days.