A new mixed-use development would supplant City Hall's parking lot with a fire station addition, residential units, commercial space and a parking ramp, while preserving a historic church, according to new plans filed with the city of Iowa City.

Allen Homes, a local development company that signed a purchase agreement for the Unitarian Universalist Society's property earlier this year, is working with the city on the project, which would transform a site on the edge of downtown bordered by Gilbert Street, Iowa Avenue, Van Buren Street and City Hall.

According to a rezoning application filed recently by the developer for the nearly one-acre property, the project would be built atop the existing city-owned surface parking lot, as well as the property along Gilbert Street where the church's office annex once stood.

"Open parking lots aren't necessarily the best use of land near the downtown, so this would put a productive use in that location and help preserve the historic church building," said Bob Miklo, senior planner for the city.

The fate of the former 108-year-old church has been in limbo this past year after the congregation voted to sell its longtime home and build a new facility in northwest Coralville. While the more modern annex to the church was demolished earlier this year, the original sanctuary was left standing at 10 S. Gilbert St. and would remain so under the proposed plans.

Plans show the fire station addition being built where the church annex once stood along Gilbert Street, between the existing fire station and the original church. Three stories of commercial space would be housed above the fire department.

The building would also feature 25 townhouses lining Iowa Avenue and Van Buren Street, surrounding a multistory parking ramp with 202 spaces that would stand in the center of the development. An additional 24 apartment units would be built above a portion of the parking structure.

The current parking lot, which is used by police cruisers and other city fleet vehicles, must be rezoned from public property to Central Business Support Zone to allow for the development. Iowa City's Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled to take up the developer's application at meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

For more information, view www.press-citizen.com

Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton is in Washington, D.C., attending a demonstration by 9/11 firefighters and police seeking extension of the Zadroga Act, which provides health care for those responders suffering deleterious effects of working at Ground Zero in the wake of the attacks.

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Two new fire stations are expected to open on opposite ends of Forsyth County within the coming year.

The plans for Stations 6 and 8 were recently approved by the county commission, with construction to be handled by D.A. Edwards and Co. for about $5.6 million.

Station 8 will be a replacement facility. It will be built on the same spot, 6015 Keith Bridge Road in north Forsyth, as its predecessor of the same name.

Fire Division Chief Shivers said the current station is a relic that does not have adequate infrastructure.

The second fire station, which will we be built in southeast Forsyth, is part of other improvements.

There is currently no Fire Station 6.

Shivers said the two new fire stations would be “virtually identical” in design, though Station 6 will have some exterior variations to comply with the Peachtree Parkway Overlay.

For more information, view www.forsythnews.com

A 1927 fire truck may now get a permanent home at the Antioch Historical Society.

In 2000, former Mayor Jim Davis and education advocate Barbara Herendeen discussed the idea of showcasing firefighting history in Antioch.

In addition to the city's donation of the historic fire truck, there is also a water hose wagon and a trailer.

The plan is to keep the 88-year-old equipment as a slice from the past, but also to educate for the future.

Before any of this takes place, the project committee needs about $20,000, which will be used to build a new facility on museum property. The city earmarked just that last week, but the historical society still will need more to get the project finished and for the upkeep.

Led by Don Freitas, the committee is moving quickly to secure the vital funds.

Once money is secured, a steel A-frame modular double garage will be installed on museum property, which is located on Fourth Street.

In addition to the three firefighting pieces, the small building will also house photos displaying fire history, the men and women involved and the volunteer program before the city had a fire department.

In addition to funding, the committee seeks any fire house artifacts such as photos, uniforms, equipment and "other interesting items" to be donated or loaned to the museum.

Fire House Project donations can be sent to 1500 W. Fourth St., Antioch, CA 94509. For more information, call 925-757-1326 or email AntiochHistoricalSociety@comcastnet.

For more information, view contracostatimes.com