Avon committee recommends new Company 3 headquarters, phased renovations of Companies 1 and 4; estimated cost ~$56M

The Avon Fire Station Building Committee recommended on Sept. 4 that the town relocate headquarters to Company 3, build a new or substantially renovated Company 3 facility and follow with renovations to Company 1 and improvements at Company 4 in a phased approach designed to last 40–50 years.

Jim Speich, chair of the Building Committee, told the Town Council the town’s fire infrastructure has not seen serious renovation in roughly 50 years and highlighted new demands on firefighters, including larger apparatus, expanded rescue capabilities and the need for decontamination and separate storage for contaminated gear. "If you had a 50 year old home, I believe you would have done renovations besides painting and new roofs to make them more functional to your needs and up to date," Speich said.

Architects from Tecton presented reduced options after workshops with firefighters and the Council. The committee’s preferred package would relocate administrative and training functions to a ~30,574 gross‑square‑foot Company 3 facility, provide targeted renovations and modest additions to Company 1 (about 11,233 GSF) and improve Company 4 (about 8,481 GSF). Tecton gave a department total range of $55.7 million to $59.2 million for sequential construction and conventional, durable construction.

"We re-established space needs to focus on health and operational safety, response time, training and equipment storage," Tecton Principal Jeff McElravy said, noting the team trimmed roughly 8,000 square feet from earlier proposals through prioritization and right‑sizing. He also said a conventional building is preferred for long‑term civic value and resilience over pre‑engineered metal buildings.

Fire Chief Bruce Appell and AVFD Board President Jamie DiPace emphasized firefighter health and safety, recruitment needs and the operational case for larger bays, transition zones and decontamination areas. Appell urged the Council to consider the department’s future role while acknowledging the town would likely need a referendum to fund the work.

Council members pressed for tighter square footage on non‑apparatus, non‑safety spaces and widespread public outreach. "This is going to be a heavy lift for the education of the people in this Town about why this generational investment is needed," Council member Weber said.

Town financial staff presented a long‑term debt forecast tied to the building package and other pending capital projects. The Building Committee and staff propose advancing to roughly 30% design and producing a third‑party estimate for referendum consideration. The committee recommended community outreach in advance of a potential November 2026 referendum, with staged construction beginning as early as mid‑2027 if approved.

Next steps the committee recommended include additional public engagement across town venues, a 30% design phase to firm costs, and value‑engineering to find further efficiencies. The committee said delaying work risks added escalation and does not resolve current operational or health and safety deficiencies.

The council gave consensus for the Fire Department to produce a video, host tours and begin public outreach as recommended.