Chief requests disposition of former Cherryland Fire Station as residents press for preservation

The Alameda County Unincorporated Services Committee considered next steps for the former Cherryland Fire Station at 109 Grove Way in unincorporated Hayward after the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) described the building’s deterioration and a stalled historical assessment.

Deputy Chief Eric Moore said the station was declared surplus in 2017. An October 4, 2022 auction produced no bids; a February 28, 2023 board letter seeking authorization to re-list the property was withdrawn after staff recommended the Parks, Recreation, and Historical Commission (PRHC) evaluate the building’s historic significance. Moore said PRHC voted on June 1, 2023, to obtain a historical assessment but the assessment was not completed due to an absence of funding. He showed photos documenting water damage, a caving ceiling, repeated break-ins, transient encampments and vegetation overgrowth, and said the building is seismically unstable and not ADA-compliant.

Moore asked the committee to recommend that the Alameda County Fire Department Board of Directors authorize disposition and to coordinate with Real Property Management to place the property for sale or other disposition. He said ACFD has been paying for site upkeep and has partnered with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office to remove abandoned vehicles and install barriers to limit access.

Multiple community members urged the county to pursue preservation before demolition. Cindy Torres said the community had discussed the building for six years and would like historical designation and community use; Dr. Anne Maris, who researched the station’s volunteer-built history during World War II, said neighbors opposed demolition and offered several reuse ideas. Michael Fried, a former MAC member, asked for a salvage assessment if demolition is required and recommended restricting future sales so any redevelopment serves community needs.

Supervisors expressed embarrassment that the assessment had not been completed and asked staff to track what happened at PRHC and the local MAC. Chair Supervisor Miley directed the item be held over for follow-up: staff were asked to coordinate with the Community Development Agency (CDA), Real Property Management, the PRHC records, and Alameda County Fire District leadership; meanwhile ACSO was asked to assist with site security. ACFD clarified the property is owned by the Alameda County Fire District, a dependent special district governed by the Board of Supervisors via the Fire District board of directors.

No final disposition decision was made. The committee requested a short due-diligence report back to the committee with MAC/PRHC meeting records, any offers or expressions of interest previously received, and options for demolition, salvage, or transfer that preserve historical elements where feasible.