Summerside buying land to replace 60-year-old fire hall
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Metropolis officers in Summerside have agreed to purchase two acres of land off Ryan Avenue for a long-talked-about new hearth corridor.
Councillors voted unanimously to simply accept a tentative buy settlement with Pan American Properties Ltd., the main points of which haven’t been launched, at a June 20 assembly.
The property is an empty lot between Ryan Avenue and the previous Holland School vocational faculty.
There are nonetheless just a few steps that must be taken earlier than the deal is finalized, together with an official survey of the property, however metropolis management and its hearth chief are hailing the deal as a long-overdue and much-needed step ahead on the file.
“It’s fairly thrilling information,” stated Fireplace Chief Ron Enman. “The ball’s on the downward roll now and it’s going to achieve its personal momentum from right here. It’s been a protracted whereas coming.”
Town stated it selected this location out of a number of that have been submitted as potential websites due to its centralized location. The property has close by entry to most of Summerside’s main collector roads, which can make response instances faster for not solely hearth vans, however for volunteers attempting to get to the station and their tools.
As soon as the survey is full and the sale finalized, town will challenge a request for proposals for the design and building of the brand new corridor. The ultimate price ticket of the undertaking will depend upon what design is chosen.
Development is tentatively scheduled to start out someday in 2023.
The constructing that’s being changed, Station 1 on Foundry Avenue, is greater than 60 years previous and is previous its optimum service life. The construction has routinely suffered harm in extreme climate occasions, has lingering points with water harm that has compelled the closure of some sections, and even its primary facilities, like acceptable bathe services, not meet the wants of a contemporary volunteer hearth division.
Mayor Basil Stewart famous that Station 1 is likely one of the final main municipal services in Summerside that hasn’t had a comparatively latest replace or substitute. So to lastly see it get its due is a crucial day for the group’s future.
“(The present constructing) is simply not appropriate at the present time, particularly with the expansion that we’re having,” stated Stewart. “(The brand new constructing) needs to be constructed wanting forward into the longer term, one thing for the subsequent 50 or 60 years. That’s the plan.”
Coun. Barb Ramsay, who chairs the hearth and police service committees, additionally expressed her reduction on the development of the undertaking.
“I couldn’t be extra happy,” stated Ramsay. “We’ve been ready for a location for this new hearth corridor for a really very long time. We’ve labored on this time and time (once more) and day in and day trip – and I’m simply thrilled that we lastly have a location.”
Colin MacLean is a municipal reporter with the SaltWire Community in Summerside, P.E.I. @JournalPMacLean
