Groundbreaking at 3925 South Charleston Pike was just held in March of this year for the fire station that will serve the east side of the city, an area where housing and business development have taken off over the past two years. City officials say the site was strategically selected to ensure efficient and effective emergency services in the growing area.
City commissioners are considering approval of an additional $3,840 for design fees related to the station, bringing the total bill from App Architecture LLC for its work on the project to $632,990. Commissioners will likely approve the additional cost at their next regular meeting on Tuesday.
The total anticipated cost for the South Charleston station, which includes a substation for the police department, is $5.5 million.
The east side fire station will be the second to open of a total of three scheduled for construction using federal dollars allocated as part of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and local funding approved by voters as part of a 2021 tax levy.
The first completed fire station, recently opened and located 2040 South Limestone Street, experienced substantial construction delays due to supply chain issues and exceeded cost projections, primarily due to labor and supply costs according to Heck.
The city had originally planned on building four new fire stations to replace aging facilities but put a pause on those goals due to construction costs. Heck has indicated the delay will also enable the city to again assess potential locations to make sure the fourth fire station is built in an appropriate area to address current and future community needs.
The next new fire station slated for construction will be located at 1715 West North Street, the former location of the Villager Inn motel. The city had purchased the property with the intention of converting the hotel for use as a facility for the homeless, but a fire and subsequent water damage led city officials to condemn and demolish the building.
A property at Zischler Avenue was originally intended to be the site of the west side fire station, but city officials determined that site would not accommodate a four-bay station, and the Villager Inn site was determined to be a suitable alternative.
City officials say no date is yet set for groundbreaking for the West North Street fire station.
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