The former Maple Avenue fire station has at least another month of life despite mounting obstacles facing the century-old building.
The Galesburg City Council on Monday voted once again to delay voting on a bid to demolish the aging firehouse, opting instead to exhaust all possible solutions to save the historic structure.
Aldermen will revisit the issue at its Aug. 18 meeting. The vote to table the demolition bid was 7-0.
Previously: Maple Avenue Fire Station gets reprieve from demolition.
City administration will now explore three possible options for the aging landmark.
According to City Manager Eric Hanson, the Council could:
- Proceed with demolition at a cost of $55,700.
- The City could investigate retaining the 1907 structure—used only for storage since 2002—for possible future rehabilitation for public use.
- The City could sell the firehouse to a developer or individual for private use.
Hanson said he could say “without hesitation” the cost for the city to rehabilitate the building would be in excess of $500,000—likely closer to $1 million.
Steve Gugliotta, director of Community Development, explained limitations that a private developer would face in putting the firehouse to use, including restrictions as far as not being able to have any openings such as windows or doors on both the north and south sides of the building.
Administration told Council on Monday that one private individual estimated their cost of rehabilitating the fire station to be in excess of $350,000.
