SPRINGFIELD – Peter Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus lines readily admitted seeing the demolition begin on the former bus station was a “bittersweet” moment for him.

The former bus station – Peter Pan now operates out of Union Station – has been bought by Wayfinders, which is constructing a new headquarters on the Main Street location.

Peter Gagliardi, the president and CEO of Wayfinders, said the entire building should be taken down within three to four weeks and that construction on the new building should start sometime in December. He predicted the new home for the housing agency would be open sometime in the first quarter of 2020.

Gagliardi called the 49 year-old bus station “an iconic building in Springfield.”

“I can’t imagine any building being more recognizable,” he added.

Picknelly explained the building was the first built by his late father and opened in April 1969. He added that during its history, 20 million people passed through the building.

He said the day was “very, very sad for me, but I’m very happy for my friend Peter.”

Picknelly added that when the Pioneer Valley transit Authority started using the building as a hub, it became the first intermodal center in the country. He also noted that competing bus companies used the terminal, such as Greyhound and Trailways, which was also a first.

The historic plaque that was in the bus station noting this was the location of Springfield pioneer Miles Morgan’s home – whose statue stands in Court Square – would be installed in the new building, Gagliardi said.

Gagliardi said the new location across the street from Union Station would mean greater access for Wayfinder’s clients.

Mayor Domenic Sarno said, “In a way this is another positive historic transition – from moving and assisting people and families in travel to now empowering people and families towards a productive path in their lives.”