The timeline for the demolition and rebuilding of Fire Station 21 at the corner of Greenwood Avenue North and North 73rd Street is a bit behind, but we’ve just been told by the city that construction bids will be opened next Wednesday.
As we’ve previously reported, the Defenders of Greenwood will move five blocks down to the empty lot at 6802 Greenwood Ave. N., while their current station is demolished and rebuilt. The new Station 21 will be 8,576 square feet over two stories, and will include more spacious living quarters and offices for the firefighters, as well as more room for equipment. A small parcel of property was purchased directly east of the current station to accomodate the larger building.
Here’s a rendering of what the new station will look like. It was designed by the Miller Hull Partnership.
During constructions, firefighters and their equipment will be housed in trailers and industrial tents. Construction is expected to last about a year. Here’s what that empty lot looks like now.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Mike Perry // Apr 23, 2010 at 11:02 am
Then when the firefighters leave we can turn that excellently situated lot at 68th and Greenwood into a small neighborhood park.
2 Christo // Apr 23, 2010 at 11:56 am
+ 1 for a park
3 Phinneyman // Apr 23, 2010 at 1:14 pm
I’ve heard a rumor that the Mayor proposes to scrap entirely the Phridgewood Fire Station. Can anyone confirm or deny this?
4 Neighbor // Apr 23, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Gray siding? That new fire station may look an awful lot like the Ken’s across the street.
5 safetyguyneighbor // Apr 23, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I’ve always been curious if there are environmental concerns with that property -it is hard to believe that prime piece of land wasn’t scooped up by some developer during the “bubble years” of real estate…is there something toxic underground???
6 Whopper // Apr 24, 2010 at 6:52 am
A park? Wouldn’t the city have to own it or are we talking confiscation by the people here?
7 Kat // Apr 24, 2010 at 9:40 am
safetyguyneighbor – It used to be an old gas station (I’m sure you can tell by the photos) so I wouldn’t be surprised if the tanks were still underground and that would require a (very expensive) cleanup. The site where the boat shop used to be (by Goodwill) used to be a gas station too, and when they tore that down they cleaned it up but now the price is way to high that no one wants to buy it.
8 safetyguyneighbor // Apr 25, 2010 at 1:32 pm
thank you Kat. I suspected something like that.
9 Fnarf // Apr 25, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Ugh, not a park. That strip needs more retail. Retail is synergistic; the existing spaces need it. There are parks all over the goddamn place. We need something INTERESTING, not grass.
10 Guy Phinney // Apr 25, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Chip Nevins from Parks & Rec can probably answer many of these questions. See below:
Give me a call if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Chip Nevins
Acquisition Planner
Seattle Parks and Recreation
800 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 98134
(206) 233-3879
chip.nevins@seattle.cov
11 Harry Tracy // Apr 25, 2010 at 9:40 pm
If the old gas station becomes a park, will I be able to bring my gun there? I presume that smoking will be verboten. Hmm?
12 BMAC // Apr 25, 2010 at 10:41 pm
I’m hoping you all are kidding….or do you really think that another 10 foot by 10 foot park is more important than the safety of your home, business and neighborhood?!
13 erin // Apr 26, 2010 at 10:56 pm
We’re neighbors with that lot at 6802 Greenwood. I talked with the City about the lot earlier this week (because of weed control issues). The fire station project is going ahead. Work is expected to begin shortly to prepare for the trailers and tent that will temporarily house the firefighters and equipment, respectively. The trailers are expected to arrive in late June or early July. Then construction on the old site can begin, and it is expected to last about a year.
Regarding environmental hazards–we were interested in that too when we bought our property, so we pulled the environmental reports. If we understood them correctly, the tanks have been removed and the soil remediated, except for under the building. (Apparently you don’t have to remediate under a building if it would endanger the building — which is probably why the current owners haven’t torn it down yet.) The groundwater is at 50 feet, so the oil in the soils wasn’t really migrating much.
And yes, a park would be cool when the City is done with temporarily housing the Defenders of Greenwood (the property is something like 11,000 square feet, not 10×10), and no, please don’t bring your gun or your cigarettes. The pigeons and weeds and tagging are enough of a problem already, thank you very much
As for retail, there’s already a lot of empty storefronts in our neighborhood, including directly across the street next to Picnic and 8 Limbs Yoga in Fini.
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