Rendering of the firehouse project, front and rear views. Courtesy KG+D Architects
By THANE GRAUEL
Don’t roll up the hoses just yet, the Pound Ridge Fire District’s effort to fund major firehouse upgrades appears still to be blazing.
In December 2022, fire district voters approved $6.5 million for the upgrades. The planning board signed off on the work in December 2023.
Now the district has announced it will ask voters for an additional $3.5 million because, it said, bids for the work came in higher than expected.
“In an effort to better serve the residents and businesses in the town of Pound Ridge, the Pound Ridge Fire District is appealing for an increased bond,” a statement from the district said.
“The increase will enable the all-volunteer firefighter force to provide more services and answer more emergency calls, and in turn, better serve the Pound Ridge community.”
The vote is to take place April 8.
While the taxpayers had signed off on the new firehouse plans, “following a nationwide period of high inflation, every bid received for the project came in significantly higher than projected,” the district said in its statement.
“While the current bond can finance part of the needed update, the Board of Fire Commissioners determined that it is essential to the safety of the community to appeal for additional funds,” it read. “Currently, the Pound Ridge firehouse is operating at over 200 percent of safe capacity for current apparatus and equipment.”
“This increased bond is critical for the all-volunteer firefighting force to have a safe firehouse that can accommodate the emergency vehicles that this community deserves, as well as appropriate storage,” said Peter Gallagher, chair of the Board of Fire Commissioners. “We strongly believe that the Pound Ridge Fire Department needs a station that adequately addresses the department’s current and future operations.”
The district said there will be townwide mailings on the topic, and open meetings and public information sessions. Residents can email info@poundridgefire.com to join the email list for additional project updates, the district said.
According to the department, the expansion project, once started, will take about 18 months to complete.
The plan is to merge four lots and expand its existing headquarters at 80 Westchester Ave., including the relocation of its driveway and site improvements on the 10.4-acre property.
The firehouse was last updated more than three decades ago when it received a two-bay addition in the rear.
The new project includes a two-bay addition on the front of the existing building and upgrades to the infrastructure and site work to improve parking and maintain and manage water quality.
The project also includes replacement of the HVAC system, water treatment, a generator and the information technology network, as well as vehicle exhaust management and fuel/heating oil storage.