Officials discuss proposed site and financing strategy for Tuscaloosa Fire Station 5

City staff briefed the Tuscaloosa City Public Safety Committee on a proposed site for a new Fire Station 5 located adjacent to the city’s public safety logistics facility and the Curry facility. Committee members discussed response-time gaps south of the Greensboro Avenue railroad tracks and the potential funding pathway for construction: selling the 3,200-site (the former BMW dealership) and using proceeds to help finance a new station.

A staff presenter said the proposed site is on property the city already owns near the logistics center, which would eliminate land acquisition cost for the station. He described analytic work the city ran to model response times and coverage gaps between existing stations, noting delays caused when trains block Greensboro Avenue. Staff said placing a station south of the tracks would shorten response times in areas including Rosedale Court and parts of West End.

Committee members and staff reviewed the funding picture. Staff and council members referenced the city’s earlier purchase of the 3,200 property in February 2019 for $2,300,000; staff recommended that proceeds from a future sale of that property be escrowed for station construction. Staff noted the council previously authorized $2,000,000 for a Tuscaloosa Fire and Rescue fleet center to be colocated at the logistics site. Cost examples discussed included Fire Station 6, which staff said cost about $6,000,000 (including roughly $1,600,000 for land acquisition). A staff member noted some municipalities have built stations at lower costs and challenged the team to achieve cost efficiencies.

Council members requested additional details and said they would like the proposal to be returned to the Public Safety Committee with a draft request-for-proposals (RFP) and recommended sale conditions for the 3,200 property. Staff said they would prepare draft RFP language and return to the committee; the committee subsequently approved a procedural motion to continue exploring the proposed site and to bring the item back at the next Public Safety Committee meeting. The committee recorded the motion as passed by voice vote; no formal appropriation or construction authorization was made at this meeting.

Ending: Staff emphasized that station construction is contingent on funding; the sale of the 3,200 property and improved market conditions would inform next steps. The committee asked for a return briefing and draft RFP language before any sale or construction authorization.