Aldermen are hitting the brakes on demolishing the century-old Maple Avenue fire station, voting 6-0 on Monday to pause the decision and explore potential uses for the aging landmark.
The council will revisit the station’s future at its July 21 meeting.
Constructed in 1907 to serve Galesburg’s growing northern neighborhoods, the station has been relegated to storage since the Fremont Street Station opened in 2002. City staff recommended a $55,700 demolition contract with Fowler Enterprises LLC, citing the building’s disrepair and the chance to enhance adjacent Bateman Park.
But community and some council sentiment shifted toward preservation, prompting Third Ward Alderman Evan Miller to propose tabling the decision, saying, “I would like to look at other options to keep it, instead of just destroying it.”
Aldermen voted 6-0 table the issue. Fifth Ward Alderperson Heather Acerra was not in attendance Monday.
Previously: Galesburg eyes demolition of century-old Maple Avenue fire station
Mayor Peter Schwartzman championed the building’s historical value, telling WGIL, “It’s an historic building and there’s potentiality for having a place that people can visit and see the wonderful history of our fire department. Or maybe it’s a multi-use space.
“Before we knock a building down with that historical relevance, let’s see what we can do with it.”
Schwartzman added, “It just hasn’t been on people’s radar. Maybe there’s some philanthropic interest and it could be a partnership of some kind.”
Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind, who started his career at the Maple Avenue station, shared its emotional pull, saying, “It was my favorite station… old with a lot of personality — just how I pictured a fire station to be.”
Hovind, however, cautioned about its condition, saying, “I was just through it about six months ago, and it’s really deteriorated… you can see through some of the brick. It probably needs between a half million and a million dollars worth of work.
“If someone wants to renovate it, that would be neat, but it would take a lot of dollars.”
