Title
Discussion of Disposition of Old Fire Station 1 (B)
Explanation
In April 2015, the City moved forward with building a “new’ Fire Station #1 located in the 500 block of South Main Street. With the opening of the ‘new’ on August 11, 2018, the City has yet to make a final decision on the future of ‘old’ Fire Station #1.
A timeline for all is outlined:
· 8/22/19--Commission discussed its desire to retain the building and partner with a third-party organization for a long-term lease for adaptive reuse and for staff to draft an appropriate solicitation document #180555).
· 11/21/19--Commission provided direction and feedback to the ITN to solicit a partnership (#190564).
· 2/12/2020--An ITN was posted
· 5/6/2021--Commission accepted staff’s recommendation to begin negotiations with the University of Florida as the top-ranked third party to provide services. The Commission also instructed the City Manager to evaluate the structure for code and life safety code compliance, and provide a cost analysis including potential funding options to bring the structure up to code (#190564)
The City contracted with Brame Heck Architects, Inc. to perform a comprehensive analysis of the structure. Updates need are:
· Upgrades to the building structure to support increased loading from the proposed new occupancy;
· Replacement of all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems which are approaching the end of their useful life;
· Addition of a fire sprinkler system throughout the building;
· Upgrades to the building to make it accessible as required by the Florida Building Code. Most costly is the installation of an elevator for the 2nd floor;
· Demolition and replacement of all interior partitions, finishes, doors, and equipment;
· Replacement of exterior windows and doors;
The report concluded that the proposed new use is feasible with the listed improvements and code compliance. It would also be less expensive to complete the upgrades versus razing the structure an...
Click here for full text