BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) \u2014 The Bakersfield City Council is slated to once again consider the fate of the historic Sumner Station in Old Town Kern, according to the meeting agenda for Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The City Council has three options: Leave the lease for the station as is and let it continue, direct staff to terminate the lease with a 30-day notice to Union Pacific or provide an alternative direction, the agenda said.<\/p>\n
Watch 17 News, After Sunrise and more local news free on your smart TV. Click to learn more about KGET+ <\/a><\/p>\n Sumner Station was originally built by the Southern Pacific railroad in 1889<\/a> and is now owned by Union Pacific. It closed as a passenger rail station in 1971.<\/p>\n The city entered into a 12-month lease with Union Pacific for the station on June 24, 2021, when the railroad company announced plans to demolish the station with 130 years of history, according to the agenda.<\/p>\n The lease came with waived rent and automatically renewed each year, according to city officials. The city has spent about $140,000 on maintenance and security since 2021 as the city is required to maintain the building as part of the lease agreement.<\/p>\n The city staff at the time estimated it would cost between $5 million and $8 million to rehabilitate the landmark, the agenda read.<\/p>\n 5th Annual KEEP CALM Jamboree set for April <\/a><\/p>\n Several community members, including Ward 2 Councilmember Andrae Gonzales<\/a>, have been arguing for the Sumner Station\u2019s renovation with the hopes of turning it into an economic hub for Old Town Kern.<\/p>\n The City Council is set to discuss this matter during its meeting at 5:15 p.m. Jan. 21 at 1501 Truxtun Avenue, according to the agenda.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/p>\n