SOUTH RIVER — Borough officials are moving ahead with plans to build a $6.9 million fire station at the corner of Jackson Street and Raritan Avenue.
The fire station, which was approved by the Borough Council during a special meeting on March 16, will be about 20,000 square feet, with an additional 2,000 square feet for a boxing club, according to plans submitted by Robert Mitchell of Mitchell Associates Architects.
Fire Marshal Arthur Londensky said soliciting separate bids for the fire station’s foundation and steelwork would cut construction time in half. However, the possibility of a split bid depends on how long it takes to complete ongoing soil remediation at the site.
“There is a proposal from Mitchell Associates to split-bid the project to get the project moving faster,” Londensky said. “It will depend on the schedule of Aurora Environmental — if [they] are on schedule and can get out within the next six weeks, we would be able to bid before that.”
According to a timeline submitted by the architectural firm, a split bid would speed up the project by at least three months and reduce the amount of construction that would take place during winter conditions.
Borough Administrator Frederick Carr said Aurora should be finished with soil remediation by the end of April. While the potential for a split bid is on the table, Carr said no decision was made as of March 19.
Borough officials have discussed building a new firehouse since 2009, but only went out to bid on plans in August 2014. In February, the former Knights of Columbus building and gas station at the site were demolished to clear the way for the new fire station.
The total cost of both Jackson Street properties was more than $700,000, according to Carr. Thus far, the borough has invested a total of $2,085,849 in the project.
“There is nothing in this building that is a want — it is all a need,” Londensky said. “The members of the Fire Department are all taxpayers, too. We’ve worked very hard to make this a reasonable building costwise.”
The station will include three full bays and two half bays for vehicles, a gear room in the back, two first-floor administrative offices, and training rooms and bunk rooms on the second floor.
The council unanimously approved the fire station design. Councilman Shawn Haussermann, who has previously expressed concerns about the cost of the project, was not present at the meeting.