Mo. fire station gets new home for $10

The larger facility will provide more space to better satisfy area fire and emergency services needs

October 05, 2010 05:27 AM

By Clinton Thomas
The St. Joseph News-Press

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The UMB Bank at 2501 Frederick Ave. will become a fire station.

The decorative turrets overlooking Frederick Avenue from UMB Bank’s “castle” location come from a time when such a structure would protect the people who lived nearby.

New plans from the city and UMB Bank will transform the St. Joseph landmark into a fully functional guardian for the community.

UMB will close its bank at 2501 Frederick Ave., and sell the building to the city for $10 for a fire station, according to an announcement Monday.

“Our plans demonstrate a dedicated and long-standing commitment to St. Joseph and the surrounding community,” said David Cripe, UMB Community Bank president. “As a cornerstone of this community for many years, we believe this was a necessary contribution to preserve the historical integrity and support the public safety of St. Joseph.”

The building will be the new home of Fire Station No. 9, which sits two blocks away in a smaller, single-bay facility at 2217 Frederick Ave.

The larger facility will provide more space to better satisfy area fire and emergency services needs and will have the potential for neighborhood/public meeting rooms and office space for other municipal or private functions. The city’s plans are to construct a bay that will house two fire response vehicles.

Fire Chief Mike Dalsing said the city was fortunate to find a piece of real estate so close to an existing location. Also, because the cost for a new Fire Station No. 12 on St. Joseph Avenue came in under budget, the city can renovate the castle into a fire station without having to ask voters to increase their taxes to pay for it.

“It’s two stations for the price of one,” Mr. Dalsing said.

The current Station No. 9 holds sleeping quarters for three people. After renovations, the building will have room for six people, according to Mr. Dalsing.

No timetable has been set for construction, though Mr. Dalsing said the choice of an architect will be extra important when dealing with a historic structure.

“We need someone that can keep the building looking close to what it looks like now. At the same time, we need an architect that can design the fire station we need,” Mr. Dalsing said.