Councilwoman Krajewski thanks everyone for their support and efforts to raise funds for the new station in Tacony that will serve Engine 38. 06/10/11. Sarah Schu
The administration of then-Mayor John Street first alerted the Tacony community four years ago that the neighborhood’s fire engine company would be relocated because of the Interstate 95 renovations.
Two years ago, the old Engine 38 firehouse, at 4960 Longshore Ave., was demolished to make room for a new highway on-ramp.
Since then, Tacony has had no fire station of its own.
On June 10, city and state officials moved the first shovels of dirt for the construction of a new Engine 38 at 4931 Magee Ave., in the heart of Disston Park.
“I want to thank the community for their patience,” said state Sen. Mike Stack at the ceremonial groundbreaking. “I know there’s a lot going on here, between the I-95 ramp construction and now the building of a new firehouse. But the end result will be worth the wait.
“This construction will make this community an even better place to live and work, a place that you can continue to be proud of,” he added.
The $6.9 million firehouse project is scheduled for completion in December 2012. Little Brothers Construction is the general contractor, according to Katie Martin, a spokeswoman for Mayor Michael Nutter.
The project is expected to generate 257 construction jobs and include 28 percent participation of businesses owned by minorities, women or entrepreneurs with disabilities, Martin said.
The firehouse will be 12,200 square feet and include a community room that will be available to host public meetings. The building will have a “green” roof and landscaping designed for effective storm water management. Administration officials expect the completed building to be LEED Silver-certified for environmental efficiency.
“Community input and a cooperative effort on every level of government have resulted in the long-awaited I-95 improvements and construction of the new ‘green’ firehouse facility to serve our residents,” said state Rep. Mike McGeehan. “All the surrounding neighborhoods will benefit from these enhancements to their quality of life and safety.”
The new firehouse will be almost double the size of the decades-old, 6,800-square-foot former location.
When city officials first proposed relocating the facility to the Disston Park setting in spring 2007, some neighbors questioned whether the project would violate a deed restriction created by the park’s former private owner, 19th-century industrialist Henry Disston. He had willed the ground to the city for the purpose of open space.
Initially, the Street administration proposed placing the new firehouse at Unruh Avenue and Keystone Street, about a block from the site ultimately approved for the building. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215–354–3031 or [email protected]
