new fire station slated for construction in grand junction

With the passage of a 0.5 percent sales tax approved by local voters earlier this spring, city officials in Grand Junction are making plans for the construction of a new fire station.

The planned 8,500 square-foot station, officially called Fire Station Number 6, will go up in the 700 block of 27 Road in Grand Junction’s growing Horizon Park neighborhood.

As proposed, the $3.2 million structure will house a captain’s office, lounge, storage space, kitchen, dining hall, one unisex bathroom, and eight individual sleeping quarters.

The one-story building will also feature a three-bay garage with a shop area.

Grand Junction has now issued a Request for Proposals asking for specific ideas on building what will be the city’s first new fire station since 2004.

The deadline for submitting ideas is October 17, with a final decision on the proposals expected to be made by November 11.

Because Grand Junction’s population has increased from 41,000 in the year 2000 to more than 63,300 as of last year, city officials have said that they would actually like to see three new fire stations built to respond to that growth.

Plans for the other two stations, and where they will be located, have not yet been officially announced.

By Garry Boulard

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