Work Underway At Site Of New Des Moines Fire Station

From the City of Des Moines:

DES MOINES, IOWA – Wednesday, August 7, 2019 – It’s being called a win-win for the City of Des Moines, and a one penny sales tax has something to do with it.

Demolition crews today began tearing down the former Relax Inn motel at 4144 Hubbell Avenue to clear the three-acre site for a new fire station that will serve thousands of residents in the rapidly developing area of northeast Des Moines. The Relax Inn closed in 2018 and was designated by the City as the future site for Fire Station 11.

“Without question, safety of our citizens is the City’s highest priority,” said Mayor Frank Cownie. “Fire Station 11 will allow us to enhance our already excellent fire protection and better serve one of the fastest growing areas of Des Moines.”

Thanks to the Local Option Sales & Service Tax that went into effect on July 1, 13 firefighter positions citywide, including positions at Fire Station 11, will be funded with the new revenue. Des Moines voters overwhelmingly approved a one-cent sales tax increase last March to enhance public safety, improve neighborhoods, upgrade infrastructure and provide property tax relief.

“Without revenue from Local Option, the City would’ve been hard-pressed to find funding to staff this much-needed new fire station,” said City Manager Scott Sanders. “It’s another example of our commitment to utilize sales tax dollars to better serve our City and neighborhoods.”

Architectural design, site preparation and construction for Fire Station 11 is estimated to cost $8.3 million. The building will incorporate highly energy-efficient materials and systems and is intended to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified. Large portions of the site will incorporate native prairie landscaping to promote stormwater retention and soil infiltration that will reduce the need for irrigation, pesticides and fertilizers.

“From design to functionality, Fire Station 11 will be like no other in Des Moines,” said Fire Chief John TeKippe. “It will be built with the needs of both our firefighters and community in mind, which means we’ll be able to provide fire protection and safety for northeast Des Moines like never before.”

The project is scheduled for completion in spring 2021.

This press release was produced by the City of Des Moines. The views expressed here are the author’s own.