City council authorizes pursuit of land acquisition, up to condemnation, for new Fire Station 20

Charleston City Council on an unspecified date voted to authorize staff to begin acquisition of a preferred parcel for a replacement Fire Station 20, including use of eminent-domain procedures if negotiations fail.

The mayor presented a report recommending a site at 2637 Clements Ferry Road — described in the presentation as part of a roughly 22-acre tract whose front portion is about 3 acres — as the preferred location. The council motion approved by voice vote instructed staff to pursue acquisition “up to including condemnation,” and the motion carried with the ayes prevailing.

The council and staff said the existing leased station at 1006 Pinefield (on Clements Ferry Road) has long been inadequate. The mayor said the city began negotiating in February 2018 on another parcel but that site and others were not suitable because of financing, stormwater and size constraints. “This station needs to be built,” the mayor said during discussion, adding the station is a “critical piece of life safety infrastructure.”

City staff and the…