By NEAL RENTZ
The project to expand the Pound Ridge Fire District firehouse for the first time in decades is to begin Thursday, Oct. 17, and some preparations are already under way.
The project was approved unanimously by the planning board Dec. 14, 2023, a year after the proposal was approved by town voters. A bond to pay most of the cost of the expansion was approved by voters Dec. 13, 2022.
The fire department’s $7.75 million plan is to merge four lots and expand its existing headquarters, located at 80 Westchester Ave., including relocation of its driveway and site improvements on the 10.4-acre property.
The firehouse was last updated 32 years ago when it received a two-bay addition in the rear of the building. The new project includes a two-bay addition on the front of the existing building; upgrades to the infrastructure; and site work to improve parking and maintain and manage water quality.
As stated on the department’s Facebook page, “You might have noticed some work starting at the Pound Ridge Fire Department property. We have started prepping for our expansion project which is set to break ground on October 17th 2024.”
Even with the project about to begin, “this will not impact our firefighting capabilities to protect the town,” the department stated.
According to the department, the expansion project will take about 18 months to complete. “Construction fencing will be placed around the property to keep the site safe and secure,” according to the department.
A section of the rear parking lot directly behind the firehouse and near the pond will not be accessible to the public during the construction work. The rear parking lot will be accessible from the side access road between Chubby’s Hardware and Avalon Agency Insurance, as well as the one-way access road between the firehouse and 123Dough bakery.
The PRFD is working with the town to relocate the 9/11 memorial site to another park of the town’s choosing, prior to the beginning of construction, according to the department. “We understand the importance of this memorial and do not want to limit access during our construction,” the department stated.
The department’s annual Halloween Party is being moved to Pound Ridge Town Park. The event is slated for Thursday, Oct. 31, from 6 to 9 p.m, weather permitting. Food, drinks, an ice cream truck, candy, popcorn and movies will be provided at no charge.
Several infrastructure needs are being addressed in the project, according to the department, including replacement of the HVAC system, water treatment, a generator, the information technology network, as well as vehicle exhaust management and fuel/heating oil storage.
According to the department, the size of its apparatus has grown significantly due to new emissions and safety standards and the project would address that issue. Large equipment storage has exceeded current facility capacity and space limitations create injury hazards. Existing conditions at the firehouse prohibit segmentation of personal protective equipment or turnout gear from contamination, according to the PRFD.
The plan also calls for the relocation of the offices and the conversion of existing office space into a gear storage room.
Pound Ridge Fire District Commissioner Frank Tavolacci said work will begin next week, and is to be completed by spring 2026.
“There has also been much preparation to get to the point of actually breaking ground,” he said. “The logistics of having a viable operating firehouse during a major renovation takes major planning and implementation.”
He said the project will be the first fire district in the state to utilize a “project labor agreement” to construct an addition to an existing firehouse. A project labor agreement is a pre-hire collective bargaining agreement with one or more labor organizations. It contains no-strike, no-lockout clauses that eliminate delays associated with labor unrest.
“They will hire union and non-union workers alike for the project,” he said of the general contractor. “The fire district determined that this was the best path forward to get the best results; and in the process protect the taxpayers who ultimately finance the project.”
The estimated cost of the project is $7.75 million. However, the net cost of the project is $6.5 million because the district’s plan is to use $1.2 million from its existing reserve.
The project will be financed over 27 years. The owner of a home with a market value of $500,000 will pay a total fire department tax of $258 annually, with $84 of the cost to pay for the expansion project. The owner of a home with a market value of $1.5 million will be responsible for an annual fire department tax of $773, with $252 of cost going to the expansion project.
The tax levy impact per $1,000 of assessed valuation will be $1.05.