Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, city council member Tom Rasmussen, Seattle Fire Department chief Gregory Dean and a small group of community members gathered today for the groundbreaking of a new Fire Station 37 at 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street.

The project is part of the 2003 Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy, which will upgrade 11 fire stations across the city this year.

The existing station 37, located to the north on 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Othello Street, was built in 1925, and like many other stations being upgraded across the city, is not large enough or seismically sound. Its age was one factor considered when the Fleets and Facilities determined which stations would be upgraded first.

Station 37 only measures 4,148 square feet and is not large enough for modern equipment. In the new facility, which will be twice as large, Dean explained that fire fighters will be able to work more easily. They will have a specific area used to decontaminate toxic materials when they return from an emergency and will better be able to fit modern fire apparatus (engines and ladder trucks).

“The space will be invaluable,” said Dean.

Construction of station 37 is expected to be complete by the middle of 2010.

The existing station 37 was named a historic landmark in 2004 and will be preserved. The city plans to sell the property and put funds back into the Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy.

“It is one of the finest buildings on the 35th corridor,” said Pablo Lambinicio of the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council. “I hope whoever takes the building will take care of it.”

The project design reflects the city's commitment to sustainability and is on target to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver rating. The new building will achieve energy savings of approximately 15 percent beyond code. The project includes a green screen, a vertical planting on a trellis, for greenhouse gas mitigation. A rain garden will clean and slow down water before it enters the storm water system.

Another fire station in West Seattle, Fire station no. 32, at 3715 Southwest Alaska, is scheduled to be rebuilt as well but was not included among upgrades to occur this year.

In total, the 2003 Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy will upgrade or replace 32 of the city’s 33 fire stations.