Thanks to a $1.34 million grant from the state of Oregon, the Jacksonville fire station will receive an overdue expansion and seismic reinforcement. The scope of the seismic work to the brick 1950’s-ear structure will be similar to what was done to reinforce the Old County Courthouse, now revitalized as New City Hall.
The Seismic Rehabilitation Grant was awarded in May and includes provisions for it to be used in tandem with the city’s Urban Renewal funds. The second story will include the addition of four dorm rooms, a day room, workout area, study area, laundry room facility, bathrooms, a dining room and full kitchen.
Interim Fire Chief Wayne Painter, who’s been instrumental in securing the grant funds, said the existing building footprint will remain the same since the site is essentially land-locked.
According to City Administrator Jeff Alvis, work should be completed for under $1 million, over and above the state grant. In 2019, the city’s Urban Renewal Agency allocated $1.5 million to be used in addition to any awarded grant funds to complete the project.
Residents who have followed this discussion for a decade plus will recall that the City Council has debated the need for upgrading the existing station, finding a new site or seeking annexation with nearby fire district #3. No matter the decision, the existing fire hall is sorely out of date and was deemed to be at risk of collapse in the event of a major earthquake.
Chief Painter noted that the exterior of the renovated station will be either brick, stone, wood or a combination thereof. The Historic Architecture Review Committee (HARC) will have the final say on the matter and expects to take up the matter in the coming months after drawings are available. Painter added that the interior will be modernized and that fire engine doors will be enlarged.
At the July 7 City Council meeting, the council approved contracting with ZCS Engineering and Architecture to complete the remodel and seismic upgrades. Construction will begin in March 2021 and will run until November 2021. In the interim, Painter notes that firefighters and their equipment, including engines, will be housed in modular units at the existing Public Works yard, behind the public library.