On the corner of Kalamazoo Avenue and Kendall Street SE, the new two-bay fire station will house private living quarters with individual dorm rooms, a kitchen and dining area, drive-through bays and equipment storage, a fitness room and on-site parking. Fire Chief Brad Brown says the design prioritized functionality while blending into the surrounding neighborhood, even saving old oak trees on the corner of the one-and-a-half-acre site.
“We were also able to save a large white oak and some walnut trees we are milling into lumber that will be feature walls in the stations so we’re very excited to keep some of that lumber right on site.”
Funded with $8.1 million in state grants, the station is designed to improve response times in the area and serve the Third Ward for the next 75 -100 years.
“This is a huge step forward for the department, the city and frankly for the citizens and we are very excited to get down there and start taking care of them in a more equitable manner.”
Construction is expected through October 2025.