Brian Hubert
Daily Freeman, Kingston, N.Y.
(TNS)
KINGSTON, N.Y. — The Common Council is set to vote in November on spending $1.25 million to acquire a 13,000-square-foot building at 18-30 East O’Reilly Street to serve as a new Central Fire Station.
The building is directly across the street from the current Central Fire Station, which City Engineer John Schultheis told lawmakers is no longer suitable for meeting the Kingston Fire Department’s needs. He said this building last housed a Central Hudson garage and a thrift store.
The Common Council’s Finance and Audit Committee unanimously approved the plan, clearing the way for the full Common Council to vote on the purchase at its Nov. 12 meeting.
Schultheis said if lawmakers approve the $1.25 million expenditure, the money will go towards acquiring the property and designing the new fire station. He added it was too early to offer an estimate of what the full project will cost.
“We could start construction in 2026 and that would give us 1.5 years to secure grant funding to reduce the cost to city taxpayers,” Schultheis said.
Renderings presented to lawmakers showed five engine bays large enough for fire trucks in a new building. “It needs to be completely new construction to handle the height and seismic loads we need,” he added. “The current garage does not have the depth or height we need.”
A rendering of a potential New Central Fire Station at 18-30 East O’Reilly Street was presented to the Common Council’s Finance and Audit Comittee by City Engineer John Schultheis on Wednesday, Oct. 9. (City of Kingston)
Kingston Fire Chief Chris Rea said these large bays would future-proof the station in case a larger ladder truck is needed at Central Station should larger and taller buildings get built in Midtown under the city’s new form-based zoning code.
The new building will feature a brick facade and decorative tower feature to blend in with other nearby buildings, he said.
Other portions of the building would be remodeled to feature new sleeping quarters, men’s and women’s showers and bathrooms, living quarters, a kitchen and lounge and gym for firefighters along with administrative space including a deputy chief’s office, he added.
Rea told lawmakers that the new building could also house an emergency operations center where department heads could work in one centralized location to handle all emergency management.
The current Central Fire Station, which City Engineer John Schultheis told lawmakers is no longer suitable for meeting the Kingston Fire Department’s needs. (Google maps)
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