City News & Updates
Krauskopf, Kevin
Architects from Shive-Hattery, the firm designing a potential new fire station on Flaxmill Road, provided a project update at May 13’s City Council meeting. The overview they provided included:
- 3-D renderings and building schematics.
- Projected construction costs.
- General timelines for each step in the process.
Design – What It Looks Like
The new fire station design emphasizes firefighter safety, readiness, and training with modern facilities:
- Fire bay includes circulation and decontamination systems for post-incident safety.
- Dedicated training areas to practice tower rescues, rappelling and advanced life-saving techniques.
- Expanded living quarters, administrative offices and public meeting spaces.
Budget – Projected Costs
Seven construction estimates ranged from $9.54M to $13.79M, with a median of approximately $10.89M. Shive-Hattery will assist in finalizing construction specs, managing the bidding process and selecting a contractor.
Timeline and What Comes Next
Completed Steps:
- November 2024: Design agreement approved by City Council and Board of Public Works & Safety.
- May 2025: Design plans and update presented.
Next Steps (Estimated):
- August 2025: Final construction documents completed.
- October 2025: Bidding opens and permits obtained.
- November 2025: Construction begins.
- July 2026: Structural framing and roofing finished; interior work starts.
- February 2027: Construction completed.
Additional Info
The Flaxmill Road station would replace the outdated Condit Street station, which lacks space and modern facilities. Its new location supports shifting community needs in the north and west, while maintaining fast response times to all parts of Huntington.
Possible future use of the Condit Street site includes converting it into a community center for the east side. The Etna Avenue station, built in 2002, will continue serving the south side.
Design costs are covered by state riverboat gaming revenue – no local income or property taxes are being used. City Council will determine whether construction proceeds, with decisions made carefully and deliberately.