LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: fire training tower

  • Fire Station 63 may move up the street

    Fire Station 63 may move up the street

    The photo above is Fire Station 63 In Historic Downtown Loveland

    Loveland, Ohio – A Fire Station 63 Relocation Focus Group has been meeting to determine the best site to re-locate the fire station in Historic Downtown and has concluded that the City should build a new firehouse at the site of the old Masonic Temple on East Loveland Avenue.

    MSA Design was contracted by the City of Loveland to conduct a study of needs at the current station and search for a possible new location.

    When the Focus Group was formed, there was a primary site for the new station that they looked at, that being 227 East Loveland Avenue which is already owned proportionally by the Loveland Symmes Fire Fighters Association and the City of Loveland. The rear portion of the property is also the site of a fire training tower. According to a memo to the committee from City Manager Dave Kennedy on May 20, the “primary drawbacks to the location are that a large portion of the property rests in the floodplain, it is not a flat site, requires a retaining wall and would not facilitate drive-through bays for emergency vehicles.”

    The Loveland Moose Lodge is located at 227 East Loveland Avenue. This is also where a fire training tower is located. When the Focus Group was formed, this was the primary site for the new station that they looked at
    The fire training tower at 227 East Loveland Avenue.

    Two other possible sites sites were evaluated, one on Oakland Road and one at Grailville on O’Bannonville Road.

    The preferred property at 220 East Loveland, is currently owned by the Firefighters Association, and was the former home of the Masonic Lodge #258.

    MSA Design says in their report about the two East Loveland Avenue sites, “There are pros and cons to each of the two sites. While either site could be used for a new Station 63, it is MSA’s opinion that the newly studied site at 220 E. Loveland Avenue would be the best option as it eliminates the possibility of damage from flooding.”

    The former Masonic Temple site is the preferred location for a new fire station. This is the front of the current building from 220 East Loveland Avenue.

    The report goes on to say about the Masonic Temple site, “While the size of the property is less than 227 East Loveland, it has two primary advantages; 1) It is not located in the floodplain and 2) It would provide for drive-through bays as the rear of the property abuts O’Bannon Avenue. Also, the site is flat, will not require construction of a retaining wall, and is a further distance from potential visibility issues which occur with westbound vehicular traffic on East Loveland approaching the East Loveland bridge.”

    The rear of the Masonic Temple site as seen from O’Bannon Avenue. Vehicles returning from runs would be able to access the bays from the rear of the station

    Jumping ahead to the conclusion, the study indicates that both sites are acceptable for the new station. Although both sites are acceptable, and the cost per square feet are proportionate, the advantage of constructing outside of the floodplain, utilizing O’Bannon Avenue for vehicles returning from runs and accessing the bays from the rear of the station, results in Masonic Temple site being preferred for the relocation of Fire Station 63.

    MSA’s concept of how a new fire station would fit on the Masonic Temple site.

    Another option that MSA Design looked at earlier was to tear down the current fire station and re-build on the existing site.

    The assessment of Station 63 completed in October of 2020 was:

    1. St. 63 is well maintained with exception of the roof- needs replaced due to leaks.
    2. Code/Ada issues due to its usability and functionality
    3. Overhead doors are 11×12 and considered small for firehouse doors. (This limits the equipment size to order (standard size vs. custom orders)
    4. 14×14 is typical size of new fire station bay doors
    5. Size of bay also an issue: low ceiling and only 3-4 feet between parked vehicles
    6. Living quarters are upstairs; typical firehouses have living quarters on same floor as vehicles
    7. A new station would have bedrooms on the 1st floor with no stairs for fire personnel to go up/down for runs.
    8. This would increase the turnaround time to get to vehicles as well
    9. New code for stairs: 7-inch rise and 11-inch tread. Current St. 63 stairs are 8-inch rise and 10-inch tread.
    10. Equipment/bunker gear also needs to be stored in separate rooms due to wear by diesel fuel fumes and UV light. Currently, at St. 63 all equipment and bunker gear is stored in the bay with the vehicles.
    11. ADA requirements due to firehouse being a government facility need wheelchair access, which it currently does not have.
    12. Elevator would be expensive to install
    13. ADA also requires a storm shelter which would also be expensive to install
    14. Any renovations done to the building means it would need to be brought up to current codes. Currently, the building is grandfathered in.
    15. Current site is too small. A new building would mean no on-site parking.

    It is MSA’s opinion that a single-story substation solution could be achieved on the site at 220 E. Loveland Avenue for, “$2.9 – $3.4 million ($335 – $390 per s.f.) in today’s dollars not including soft costs. It is MSA’s opinion that the cost of building at 227 E. Loveland Avenue as previously studied would be $5.5 – $6.5 million ($330 – $385 per s.f.) in today’s dollars plus soft costs.”

    Kennedy told Loveland Magazine today, “I will say that the ability to have rear entry into the station is critical as one of the problems that plaques the current station is exiting and entering the station.”

    Kennedy said he plans to make a presentation to Council at their second meeting in July.

  • City exploring options for new downtown fire station

    City exploring options for new downtown fire station

    Loveland, Ohio – The City and the Loveland Symmes Fire Department are exploring options for re-locating Fire Station 63 currently located in Historic Downtown on Second Street. It houses an engine company, a ladder company, and a medic unit. Station 63 is also home to Loveland’s original horse drawn steamer.

    Fire Station 63 in Historic Downtown

    The focus group will meet on Monday August 24 to review a “Fire Station 63 Relocation Report” prepared by MSA Design. You can review the report HERE. The report was paid for from “Fire Funds” at a cost of $12,000.

    The report recommends locating a new Station 63 at 227 East Loveland Avenue.

    Two other locations were studied, one at the corner of Oakland Road and Founders Drive, and the other on a street that may or may not be built connecting Oakland Road to O’Bannonville Road. Both of these alternate locations would have been on a portion of property if the Loveland City School District had purchased land from Grailville for new school buildings. The report says that since the exact locations that might be available for the construction of a new station at Gralville are unknown at this time, neither of these alternate options were studied in great detail.

    In the executive summary of their report MSA says in part”

    “The Department has been working out of a facility in downtown Loveland for many years. Over time, the suitability of this location has been compromised by increased traffic near the station. Additionally, a great deal of redevelopment has been going on in downtown Loveland, making the current station site a potential economic development opportunity. The construction of a new station would also allow the Department to adjust the size and layout to better serve their needs now and into the future.”

    The site proposed for a new facility is east of its current location, at 227 East Loveland Avenue. The site consists of two parcels, one of which is already owned by the Loveland Firefighters Association, while the other is owned by City taxpayers. The Firefighters Association’s parcel houses an existing meeting hall (Fraternal Order of Moose Lodge) while the City resident’s parcel houses the Fire Department’s fire training tower, a public works facility and parking with access to outdoor recreational facilities including the East Loveland Nature Preserve.

    The Fraternal Order of Moose Lodge on East Loveland Avenue where a new fire station might be built.

    MSA’s report says that a new Station 63 could be constructed on the East Loveland Avenue site for between 5 and 5.8 million dollars ($300 – $350 per s.f.) in today’s dollars. MSA notes the fact that these numbers are given in 2020 dollars and that should be considered when budgeting for a future project.

    City Manager Dave Kennedy told Loveland Magazine today that if a new station is built it will be paid for using the City’s Fire Fund. He anticipates that the City will sell bonds, and he does not anticipate a tax increase to pay off the bonds.

    Members of the Fire Station 63 Relocation Focus Group are, Kathleen Eldredge, Allison Ellis, and Larry Flynn. Also in the group is LSFD Captain Bruce Hawk, representing the fire department, Councilmen Andy Bateman and Ted Phelps representing City Council, and City Manager Dave Kennedy representing City staff.

    A fire training tower is already located on property where a replacement for Fire Station 63 might be built.

    Kennedy said, “The Firefighter Association owns (part of) the land, They have indicated that if the City desires to build a fire station on that site they would donate the property to the city as they did the property to build the salt dome, the fire tower, and the nature trail parking lot. In the end the City of Loveland would own all of the land and all improvements provided the committee recommends and the City choses that site.”

    The City stores road salt on property where a replacement for Fire Station 63 might be built.

    The current fire station sits on part of the land from the old City Hall and fire station that was destroyed in a fire in the early 1970’s and is owned by the City of Loveland

    Kennedy said about the current fire station, “Returning the property to commercial use could be a possibility or council could choose another public use. At the end of the day the highest best use for the city with all factors considered would be presented to council.” He added that the proceeds of any sale of the current station and property, “would go back to the fund that was utilized to construct the Fire Station which was the fire fund.”

    Kennedy added, “The current fire station is nearly 50 years old and was built to accommodate our volunteer fire department at that time. The Fire Station was built after the city hall and fire station was destroyed by fire in the early 1970’s. Operating out of the fire station is challenging for today’s modern fire service with on duty career firefighters. The station doesn’t provide quick access to apparatus and is challenging to respond from because of location and size of the front apron. Fire apparatus barley fits into the facility and is often damaged due to the size of the garage doors. The station doesn’t have safety and health features that are necessary for the hazards facing firefighters today.”

    The City Manager was asked, however did not offer an estimate of when a recommendation might be forwarded to City Council or an estimate of when construction might start if they do.