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A new administration building for the Spokane Valley Fire Department is in the works. But where it will be located is still up in the air.
Representatives from Lindquist Architects were on hand at Monday’s meeting of the fire board of commissioners. Floor plans were presented for review – space would be tripled for the new headquarters of the fire department – but the question remained on where the facility should be built.
The new building, which would go out for bids for construction in 2010, had been proposed to be built next to the current Station 8, 2110 N. Wilbur, said Larry Rider, deputy fire chief. However, the option is still open to build it somewhere else, he said.
“It would be beneficial to know by the first of the year where it will be located,” he said.
Money to fund construction for the new administration would come from the nearly $12 million that was raised when the levy lid was approved by voters to be lifted from the existing rate of $1.230 per $1,000 assessed valuation to $1.50 for six years.
The new rate allowed nearly $12 million to be raised over six years, which the fire department first used to start construction of a new Fire Station 9 at 32nd Avenue and Whipple Road. Formal dedication of that site occurred Thursday.
The district is also planning a new Station 10, to be built at 7217 E. Sprague. Since there is not enough room at the current location at 10319 E. Sprague for the new administration building – and space is running out of that facility quickly -- at least two of the fire commissioners thought remaining on that busy arterial might be a good idea.
“I kind of don’t like this place because of the access,” Commissioner Monte Nesbitt said of Station 8, which is located just north of the freeway between Pines and Argonne roads and adjacent to Union Pacific Railroad tracks.
Rider said, however, that the Station 8 and Station 10 locations are two existing sites that offer enough land to accommodate the administration building. While there has been some thought of building it closer to the proposed city center at University City, property costs are likely to be high in that area, said Commissioner Bill Anderson.
“Why pay $2 million to be next to City Hall when we have all this property here?” he asked.
Commissioner Ron Schmidt, however, said that possibility should be at least investigated as it would be the highest profile spot in a rapidly growing city.
“The Valley is growing like mad,” he said, adding, “I’d like for us to be able to meet that growth now.”
The fire commissioners will discuss the matter further at a future meeting.
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By
Mike Huffman
