SARANAC LAKE - The village is ending its lease of Union Depot, and the question of who should take over management of the historic building, and how it should be used, could open new ground in the debate over the Adirondack railroad corridor.

The village Board of Trustees voted last week not to renew its lease of the depot, which the state owns. Village officials say they haven't been able to find anyone to take over the building and also that it needs thousands of dollars in maintenance and upgrades that their taxpayers can't afford.

The Adirondack Railway Preservation Society [ARPS], which subleases part of the depot from the village, is interested in taking over the lease. ARPS, doing business as the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, runs seasonal tourist trains between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake and has already talked to the state about stepping in to run the depot.

Asked if ARPS has the money to pay for the upgrades to the building, [ARPS board member Al Dunham] said yes.

"In this last couple years, ARPS has become quite successful and profitable," he said. "We're making some additional investments. We've just about paid down all the debt service that was built up years ago. We're financially very well positioned, and we also see the capability to get some grant help."