Committee approves purchase of two parcels adjacent to Fire Station 7 for potential replacement

The City of Charleston Finance Committee on April 20 approved Resolution 25‑37 authorizing purchase of two parcels adjacent to Charleston Fire Department Station 7 to support potential replacement of aging fire stations, staff said.

City staff said Thrasher Engineering completed assessments and designs for renovations to the city’s fire stations and recommended that replacing Stations 6 and 7 may be more cost‑effective than renovating in place. To provide a larger footprint for a new Station 7, staff negotiated purchases for the adjacent parcels at 135 Emily Street and 126 Cora (spelled in transcript variously as "Core/Cora") Street.

Staff reported combined appraisals for the two houses were about $150,000. The presenter gave the purchase prices as $68,001 for 135 Emily Street and $90,750 for 126 Cora/Core Street, for a combined purchase price of $158,750; staff also estimated closing costs of roughly $1,000 to $3,000. The presenter said the owner of the 126 Cora/Core Street house approached the city and that the Emily Street property had been intermittently rented and was not occupied at the time of the meeting.

A committee member asked whether either property was currently occupied; staff said the 126 Cora/Core Street parcel was owner‑occupied but the owner had purchased another house and the Emily Street property was not currently occupied. Staff said both sellers would have 30 days to clear belongings after sale. The committee adopted Resolution 25‑37 by voice vote; the transcript does not include a roll‑call tally.