Avon hires architectural firm, first step toward second fire station

Avon City Council approved the hiring of an architectural firm Monday night in preparation of the construction of a second fire station. Perspectus, a Cleveland-based architectural firm, will conduct preliminary site analysis, create design schematics and produce construction cost estimates of the future fire station, according to a description of services submitted to Avon. The preliminary phase is expected to cost $223,350. The estimated total cost of the fire station, expected to be built at Middleton Road and Pendleton Court on the city's east side, will be between $9 million and $11 million, said Avon Mayor Bryan Jensen. Jensen said Monday's decision is the "beginning stages" of a project that the city has been eying for several years. "This initial part is something that needs to be done, I guess, regardless of where we put the second station," Jensen said, adding that Monday's agreement was the first step toward building the structure. According to the mayor, construction could start as early as this fall. "Then it will probably take a full year to get put in," Jensen said. Avon officials have indicated that as the city has grown, so too has the community's use of the fire department. Previously, they have stated that about a third of all calls for emergency aid to the fire department have come from the east side of the city. Both Jensen and Avon Fire chief David Swope acknowledged the growth of the city and its need for expanded emergency services. "We are growing exponentially," Swope said. "With the city getting busier and busier and the traffic on the roads getting busier and busier, our response times have actually lengthened compared to where we'd like to be." According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Avon's population has more than doubled since the year 2000 — rising from 11,446 to 24,844 in 2020. "It's been in the works for quite a number of years, and that location time after time has come up as where it's needed," Swope said. "Right now, this is just kind of where the calls seem to be coming in where we can make the greatest impact." According to Perspectus' description of service, the new fire station would be of similar size to the existing station — approximately 15,000 square feet. However, Swope said the second location would not have the same levels of staffing that the first station has. "The central station's still going to be our … headquarters where we have the majority of our personnel," Swope said. During Monday's meeting, Avon City Council also approved that the Truax Law Group represent the city in matters related to the construction of the future fire station. Contact Garrett Looker at glooker@chroniclet.com.