Woodlands Villager - News
Needham Fire Department considers moving its main station
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| Needham Fire Department is looking to sell Station 61 off Texas 242 and build a new station in nearby Montgomery Creek Ranch. |
By JAKE MUONIO
Needham Fire Department officials hope the department will soon be packing moving trucks.
The department is looking at the possibility of moving Station 61, its main station, from 9430 Texas 242 East in Conroe to a new location in Montgomery Creek Ranch. Montgomery Creek Ranch is about a half mile to the east of the existing station, in an unincorporated area of Montgomery County.
Dicker said the station was designed to have one medic unit living at the facility, and the electrical system, plumbing and septic system have been taxed by having up to two crews of firefighters living in the facility at any given time.
NFD now hopes to sell its existing station, and the three acres of land with direct access to Texas 242 it sits on, to someone who could put it to commercial use.
The money from the sale would be used to construct a new station to meet the department’s current and future needs, Dicker said.
By constructing the new station NFD would be able to ensure firefighters would be able to stay at the station 24-hours a day, and that it was designed for modern firefighting equipment.
“We have the land donated for the new station site,” Dicker said. “We had four plots donated, and to make sure we get what we need, we’ll have to buy two pieces of land.”
A sale of Station 61 and the land it is on will be contingent upon the department getting enough money to cover the costs of buying the additional land an building the new station, he said.
The Shenandoah City Council gave city staff approval to move ahead with a contract to purchase land for a new fire station.
“What we’re looking to do is replace the existing fire station, a building that has outlived its usefulness,” said City Administrator Chip VanSteenberg. “We’re looking in the general location of the east side of I-45 in the Wellman Road and Vision Park area, or along the (Interstate 45) feeder road.”
The location follows the recommendation of a consultant the city hired to recommend an area where the city should construct a new fire station.
The new station would replace the existing station, which is located at 801 Maplewood in Shenandoah.
VanSteenberg said the city hopes to have a contract in place for a specific piece of property within 60 days, and sometime after that an architect would be selected and plans drawn up for the station.
The department is looking at the possibility of moving Station 61, its main station, from 9430 Texas 242 East in Conroe to a new location in Montgomery Creek Ranch. Montgomery Creek Ranch is about a half mile to the east of the existing station, in an unincorporated area of Montgomery County.
Dicker said the station was designed to have one medic unit living at the facility, and the electrical system, plumbing and septic system have been taxed by having up to two crews of firefighters living in the facility at any given time.
NFD now hopes to sell its existing station, and the three acres of land with direct access to Texas 242 it sits on, to someone who could put it to commercial use.
The money from the sale would be used to construct a new station to meet the department’s current and future needs, Dicker said.
By constructing the new station NFD would be able to ensure firefighters would be able to stay at the station 24-hours a day, and that it was designed for modern firefighting equipment.
“We have the land donated for the new station site,” Dicker said. “We had four plots donated, and to make sure we get what we need, we’ll have to buy two pieces of land.”
A sale of Station 61 and the land it is on will be contingent upon the department getting enough money to cover the costs of buying the additional land an building the new station, he said.
The Shenandoah City Council gave city staff approval to move ahead with a contract to purchase land for a new fire station.
“What we’re looking to do is replace the existing fire station, a building that has outlived its usefulness,” said City Administrator Chip VanSteenberg. “We’re looking in the general location of the east side of I-45 in the Wellman Road and Vision Park area, or along the (Interstate 45) feeder road.”
The location follows the recommendation of a consultant the city hired to recommend an area where the city should construct a new fire station.
The new station would replace the existing station, which is located at 801 Maplewood in Shenandoah.
VanSteenberg said the city hopes to have a contract in place for a specific piece of property within 60 days, and sometime after that an architect would be selected and plans drawn up for the station.
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