A downtown Vancouver fire station will soon have a new home near Uptown Village.
On Thursday, the city of Vancouver announced plans to purchase the parcel of land at the corner of East Fourth Plain Blvd. and Main Street for the purpose of relocating Fire Station 1, currently located at 900 W. Evergreen Blvd.
The property, listed as 2607 Main St., is the former home of Ki’s Japanese Engine Auto Repair.
The search for a new home for Fire Station 1 began last summer after a Long Range Facility Plan determined that the city would best be served by rebuilding and moving the station – along with Fire Station 2 – to somewhere along the Fourth Plain Corridor. Such a move, the study said, would improve emergency response times.
A new location for Fire Station 2 (currently located at 400 E. 37th St.) has not been decided yet.
“Finding the best fit location for the new fire stations reinforces the city’s commitment to providing a safe, secure and livable city for our residents, businesses and visitors,” said Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt in a written statement. “Relocation of these two stations will significantly enhance public safety, particularly along the Fourth Plain corridor.”
The city plans to select an architect to design both fire stations within the next month. Designs are expected to be finalized by the end of summer with construction kicking off in spring 2016.
“We are going to look at several different potential design configurations for the new stations to find the best fit at the most efficient price,” said Joe Molina, Vancouver fire chief, in a press release.
A recent sale of surplus city properties and a funding plan started in 2013 will pay for the new fire stations, according to city officials.
Image from Google Maps
