The construction site of a new fire station at North Street and Woolsey Avenue is shown in this photo taken on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (Flyer photo/Todd Gill)FAYETTEVILLE — Construction is underway on a new fire station in the center of town.
The new station is being built at the northeast corner of North Street and Woolsey Avenue.
Once complete, the Fire Department will move its 56-year-old Station 2 from Garland Avenue to the new facility. The Garland Avenue location will then be repurposed for use as a logistical support building.
“(Garland Avenue) is not the most optimal location any longer,” said Fire Chief Brad Hardin during a groundbreaking ceremony in October.
Having a station closer to the center of town would reduce response times to within four minutes for certain areas, which is a decrease of about a minute, Hardin said. Four minutes is the national standard of travel time set by the National Fire Protection Association.
The North Street property was previously used as a parking lot just west of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest building. Washington County in October donated the 1.4-acre property to the city for the project. That same month, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs granted a release of a 1950s land restriction to allow the station to be built. The deed had previously stated that any use of the land other than for a hospital would revert the ownership of the property to the V.A.
The new station will include 11,000 square feet with three and a half apparatus bays, sleeping quarters with eight bedrooms, a kitchen and dining room, a day room, offices and a fitness room. It will be staffed with existing personnel and fire companies.
Fire Station 2 design rendering (Miller Boskus Lack/City of Fayetteville)The City Council in October approved a $1.7 million contract change order with Flintco LLC for construction management services on the project. It included site demolition, groundwork, site utilities, concrete, a generator, and switchgear.
The new station was part of the $15.8 million bond issue Fayetteville voters approved in 2019 for new fire facilities. It included funding for three new fire stations, two of which have already been built.
