Philadelphia Proposed Shawmont Station Museum Lease

The city aims to transform a historic rail building into a community museum via a new lease agreement with SEPTA.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Remote Work

Bold flat-color editorial illustration depicting the geometric silhouette of a historic stone railway station building against a solid background. — Philadelphia officials have proposed a $1-a-year lease with SEPTA to transform the historic, long-vacant Shawmont Station into a community museum. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Philadelphia officials have proposed a deal to lease the historic Shawmont Station from SEPTA for $1 annually to create a local museum. The city plans to rehabilitate the interior of the long-vacant Roxborough site to prevent further vandalism.

Why it matters

The project seeks to return a historic landmark to productive use and stabilize the site, which has been closed to the public since 1991. Revitalizing the building could improve the area near the Schuylkill River Trail.

The city has earmarked $971,658 to restore the interior and utilities of the 1834 structure. The lease agreement requires an annual payment of $1 from the city to SEPTA.

The players

SEPTA

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority is the primary transit agency managing regional rail, bus, and subway services in the Philadelphia area.

Historic Shawmont Station Society

This local organization is designated to serve as the operator for the proposed museum project.

Philadelphia City Council

This local legislative body holds the authority to pass the necessary laws to finalize the lease agreement.

The details

City Council must pass a law to authorize the lease, allowing the city to sublease the building to the Historic Shawmont Station Society. The station, located at 7700 Nixon Street, was listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 2008 following its abandonment by SEPTA.

1834: The station building was originally constructed for horse-drawn passenger service.
1991: The station was closed to the public due to building deterioration.
1996: SEPTA permanently abandoned the rail stop.
2008: The site was officially listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.
2023: SEPTA completed exterior restoration work on the historic building.

Market Landscape

The conversion project follows the 2008 listing on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places, which established the site as a preserved landmark. This move shifts the property from a dormant transit asset to a community-focused site, reflecting a wider trend of repurposing industrial infrastructure for public use.

Residents can expect the long-vacant station to become an active community space if the City Council approves the proposal. The restoration efforts aim to curb vandalism and improve the local landscape near the Schuylkill River Trail.

The takeaway

Historic preservation efforts often rely on creative public-private partnerships to fund the high costs of rehabilitating century-old structures. Transforming transit relics into museums can provide new community value while preventing the decay of local architecture.