By Jim Roberts

The preferred location for a proposed new centralized firehouse in Peekskill is the property at Broad and Park streets where the Crossroads Shopping Plaza now exists.

Chuck Jennings, a Peekskill resident and the consultant hired by the city to explore potential sites, told the public at a city council meeting on Monday that the city needs a new central firehouse in the center of town, but should also retain the existing firehouse and medical emergency response unit at 701 Washington Street.
“We are recommending the city operate two fire stations – one at Washington Street and another at Park and Broad streets,” Jennings said.

Jennings acknowledged that closing all the six existing firehouses in Peekskill and relying solely on a new central one would potentially increase response time to five minutes at the southwest part of the city, including Charles Point. Keeping the Washington Street station open would solve that problem, he said.

The consultant report included three other possibilities for a new central firehouse downtown: Broad Street between Main and Park streets; open space between Park, Broad and Brown streets; and Broad Street between Park Street and Lincoln Terrace.

If the station were built at the Crossroads site, the land would have to be acquired from the current owner either through a negotiated sale price or condemnation proceedings. Three buildings would be demolished to clear a site for the firehouse but one existing building could be reconfigured so its storefronts could open onto South James Street. The city would acquire approximately 1.9 acres and pay for the land and building through 30-year bonds.
Bob Mitchell, a second consultant working for the city, suggested that the city make decisions this fall so building could begin next spring.

“Construction costs are skyrocketing, and the faster you build, the cheaper it will be,” he said.
Mayor Mary Foster said providing the best possible fire coverage for the whole city will be the top priority. “When we build, we want the best location to ensure the safety of all residents,” Mayor Foster said. “This new building will also be useful in encouraging volunteers to join the fire department. It will be a beautiful addition to the downtown.”

The proposed new central firehouse would be 39,000 square feet if it is built on a site that can accommodate a two-story building, which the Crossroads Plaza site could do. The new building would include a public meeting room that could seat 300 people and a 1,600-square-foot museum to display the history of the city’s various fire companies.

The new central firehouse would provide response times of three minutes or less to almost all parts of the city. The current location of the existing firehouses provides similar response times in theory, but because not all firehouses are always manned with a paid driver, there are times now when responses can take longer because an engine truck may have to be dispatched from a firehouse distant from the fire.

Many of the paid drivers and trucks are typically at the Washington Street firehouse now, where paid drivers undergo training. The city has 24 paid firefighters and more than 180 volunteers.
No cost estimates were presented by the consultants, but Fire Chief John Pappas said earlier this year that he hoped the projected cost of $12 million was on the high side. He hopes to open a new firehouse in late summer of 2010.