The historic Hawley Rd. fire house is for sale again.
The Common Council approved the sale of the fire house for $300,000 back in 2007, but the renovations that Urology Associates LLC were supposed to do never got done. The buyers, in fact, got a $50,000 break on the price because of the money they were going to invest to rehab it.
The fire station is back on the market again, and the Department of City Development is again asking $350,000 for it.
The 4,792-square-foot building was constructed in 1927-28. It was one of five “bungalow” style fire stations in the city. It operated as a fire house until 2000 and was used as office space and for storage after that.
The city has several objectives in mind for any approved development:
•Renovation of the existing structure
•Office, R&D or retail use that positively contributed to the local neighborhood
•Minimal adverse impacts on the surrounding residential neighborhood
•Expansion of the City’s tax base
•Creation and/or retention of jobs
•Adherence to Design Standards
•Financially viability
•Timely redevelopment
•Incorporation of at least one sustainable or “green” element (such as increased energy efficiency or storm water management)
•Use of Emerging Business Enterprise– or EBE –contractors
The city also knows what it won’t welcome at the site:
•Automotive-related uses (repair garage or body shop, automobile sales, car wash, etc.)
•Use that generates significant traffic and parking needs
•Parking as a sole use
•Tax exempt use including a church or social service facility
•Convenience or liquor store, cigarette/cigar shop, gun shop, payday/auto-title loan store or pawn shop
•Tavern unless majority of the building is devoted to food service
The deadline for proposals is 2 p.m. March 6. More information is available on the Department of City Development website here.