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Albany officials outline $10.6 million plan to rebuild Fire Station 2, discuss funding
Summary
Fire department and architects presented a plan to demolish and rebuild aging Station 2 on Palmyra Road into a modern two-story facility with four apparatus bays, rescue storage and a wash bay. Estimated project cost is about $10.6 million to be covered by SPLOST/state funds and capital-improvement funds.
City fire officials on Feb. 17 presented the commission with a plan to replace the city’s 72-year-old Station 2 at 1500 Palmyra Road with a modern facility designed to support heavy-rescue operations and improved crew accommodations.
Fire leadership said the existing station opened in 1956, is functionally obsolete and does not meet current apparatus and equipment needs. The proposed design, presented by SRJ Architects, calls for a two-story building (appearing as one story from the front) with four apparatus bays, a dedicated rescue bay, a wash bay with runoff controls, basement storage for shoring and rescue equipment, ADA-compliant circulation and a conference/training room.
"We are here today to request your approval to rebuild fire station 2 in its current location," the chief said, describing the station’s specialized rescue mission and the need for expanded storage and operations space.
Commissioners pressed staff on the project’s price tag. The architect and staff said the total program — including construction, furnishings, design fees, geotechnical work and contingencies — is roughly $10.6 million. Funding outlined in the meeting combined state SPLOST allocations (about $5.5 million), a $1.2 million allocation from the state (splice 7) and the remainder from the city’s capital-improvement fund; staff said approximately $4.0 million would need to come from capital-improvement reserves.
Officials said initial staffing at the rebuilt Station 2 would include four firefighters and a battalion chief, with plans to increase staffing over time as apparatus and mission needs expand. The chief said operational continuity would be maintained during construction by operating temporarily out of headquarters; dispatching would still route calls to engine 2 when appropriate.
Several commissioners asked for an itemized funding breakdown and for staff to return with the precise financing plan before final approval. Staff agreed to email the full funding spreadsheet to commissioners and to include a refined budget recommendation in the next cycle.
