As part of the 2003 Fire Facilities and Emergency Response Levy, 11 fire stations across the city will be upgraded this year. West Seattle's fire station 37 will move to a brand new facility on 35th Avenue Southwest and Southwest Holden Street.

"Through the Fire Levy, neighborhood fire stations will be expanded and upgraded to accommodate modern-day fire fighting," said Seattle Fire Department Chief Gregory Dean in a press release. "The improvements will allow firefighters to protect lives and property in the city of Seattle both safely and efficiently."

The existing station 37 was built in 1925 and, like many other stations being upgraded across the city, is not large enough or seismically sound. It's age was one factor considered when the Fleets and Facilities determined which stations would be upgraded first.

Station 37 only measures 4148 square feet and is not large enough for modern equipment. In the new larger facility, Dana Vander Houwen, public information officer for the Seattle Fire Department, says fire fighters will be able to work more easily. She explained that 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).

"I'm excited because it is definitely showing progress on these stations," says Seattle city councilmember Sally Clark. "We really need them to be safe and functional buildings for these firefighters."

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.

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. The project is currently in the "pre-design" stage. Station no. 32 is 40 years old and currently measures 5,834 square feet.

It will be converted to become the lead station for Battalion VII, which covers all of West Seattle, southwest Seattle, and Harbor Island, and the industrial areas lining both sides of the Duwamish River. Upon completion, it will measure at least 16,446 square feet.

The new buildings reflect Seattle's commitment to green design. The basement of the existing station 37 will be used as a storm water vault, with the capacity to hold more than 125,000 gallons of storm water runoff. The water will then be filtered and used to wash fire trucks and equipment. The station will also have high efficiency lighting, as well as a high performance mechanical system more efficient than the Seattle Energy Code requirements.

In total, the city will begin upgrading eleven fire stations across the city this year. It is the most aggressive investment to build and modernize fire stations in 40 years.

"Seattle residents had the foresight to vote for the Fire Levy in 2003, and now they can see their tax dollars at work in their neighborhoods," said Nickels. "By building these projects now, we better protect the public and put people to work in jobs that pay well."