College Park Interim Fire Chief Wade Elmore shows where the new Godby Road fire station will be located and a photo of a station that has the same design as the new station.
At its March 4 meeting, the College Park City Council approved the construction of a new, $1.5 million fire station on Godby Road, the first for that area, as well as spend approximately $553,000 to remodel the existing station on Sullivan Road
Calling approval for construction of the new station and remodeling of the existing one “a true blessing for our citizens,” College Park interim Fire Chief Wade Elmore stated that when the stations are complete, it will assist the department in having quicker emergency response time to areas in the southeast portion of the city.
This is important, the chief added, as he estimates the department receives about 25 percent of its emergency calls from this area of the city.
This week, Elmore and College Park City Manager Terrence Moore will meet with the architect and begin the process of putting together the necessary Requests for Proposals for the new construction and remodeling, which will be sent out within two or three weeks.
“This request for proposals process will take a couple of months,” Elmore said. “I estimate construction on the new station will begin within four to five months.”
With an Insurance Services Class One rating being the best and meaning the municipality offers exemplary public protection, Elmore hopes the new station will lower College Park’s rating.
Elmore said officials from the rating service visited College Park and conducted a study of the placement of fire stations.
“They recommended Godby Road as one of the locations for a new fire station so there is a strong possibility the new station and the upgrade of the existing station could possibly see our fire protection upgraded,” he said.
Elmore said the structure of the existing Sullivan Road station, which was built around 1969, is sound so plans are for the inside to be completely remodeled.
This would include a complete modernization of the firefighters living quarters, in addition to moving the department’s offices at that location.
“We also plan on putting a ladder truck at the Sullivan Road location so College Park will have a ladder truck centrally located to the city,” Elmore said
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