Historic Fire Station is SAVED !!

[vicupstate]

A century-old fire station in South End will be saved from the wrecking ball.

The former Fire Station No. 2 at 1212 South Boulevard was scheduled for demolition, but owner Marcel Stark announced Wednesday afternoon that a private deal had been struck to save the building.

"Community South and Sherbert Consulting Group have come in and provided a finance package and structure to be able to preserve this historic building," Stark said.

Stark said the building will be redeveloped and redesigned for a new business entity.

"We're thrilled with the outcome here," said Michael Smith of Charlotte Center City Partners. "Charlotte has such a limited inventory of historic buildings that are over 100 years old. This is a real treasure for us."

The building had been in jeopardy after Stark struck a deal with Leo Balestreiri, a Florida-based developer, that signed a contract to buy the property for about $1.4 million under the condition that the lot was cleared before the sale is finalized.

After hearing about the news, the community rallied to save the firehouse, sending e-mails to Stark and starting an online campaign through Facebook.

"I think these kinds of grassroots efforts are a great tool for people to come together and express their emotions about privately owned assets," Smith said.

Stark said when he purchased the 4,400-square-foot building in 2006, paying more than $1 million for the property, he intended to lease the property to a tenant who planned to open an automotive club in which customers would pay a fee to share classic or exotic cars.

After that deal fell through, Stark said he began discussions with city officials and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission.

He said representatives with the commission had offered to purchase the firehouse for $1.8 million but later rescinded the offer.

Commission Director Dan Morrill acknowledged discussing the purchase, but said the most Stark had been offered for the property was $950,000, an offer he said still stands.

City council member Patsy Kinsey, whose district includes the South Boulevard site, said several interested parties had attempted to strike an agreement which would spare the fire station from demolition.

"They haven't quite gotten to the amount that Mr. Stark indicates he wants," Kinsey said.

Stark said he was hoping to recoup as much of his original investment as he can, and does not want to see the building demolished.

He said he was attempting to raise at least $200,000, which would be used to renovate the building and up-fit the space for a medical spa which he would own and operate.

Charlotte has long had a reputation for having no regard for it's historic fabric.  That started to change about a decade ago.  Another victory for history in a city that learned it's lesson way too late.  When will Jax learn for itself?   

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/12/1431525/south-ends-historic-fire-station.html

[Miss Fixit]

Interesting - Charlotte has an historic preservation commission that apparently has the ability to acquire historic property.  In Jacksonville we use funds designated for historic preservation to purchase parking lots,

[JeffreyS]

Did they use the funds to purchase the to purchase the Landing a parking lot?

[Captain Zissou]

Super misleading title.  I guess it was naively optimistic of me to assume this was about Fire Station No. 5.  Good news for Charlotte.  Hopefully we'll get tired of what were once peer cities leaving us in the dust.

[RockStar]

Interesting - Charlotte has an historic preservation commission that apparently has the ability to acquire historic property.  In Jacksonville we use funds designated for historic preservation to purchase parking lots,

But they're HISTORIC parking lots...so we've got that going for us.

[Jason]

Damn!  I was about to sing praise to Fiedelity.  You really lured me with that one.

[hanjin1]

yea i took the bait as well. i should have known though, this is jacksonville, nothing gets saved.

[CS Foltz]

Yup me too! I thought something good may have take place..............silly me, this is Jacksonville Florida!

[Jaxson]

If by 'saving' Fire House No. 5, you mean to say, "Saving with an awesome implosion and debris removal for the landfill," you are spot on.  I still cannot fathom how we continue to demolish our local heritage...

[thelakelander]

Any idea of why some of the historic preservation fund could not be used to relocate Fire Station No. 5? 

[urbanlibertarian]

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission has a historic preservation fund, too?

[mtraininjax]

With existing Fire stations being closed, 14 in Avondale and the other in St. Nicholas, don't look for anyone to care about the old boarded up fire station. Heck the City is spending thousands on an additional fire wing at 14, and its not even finished and Peyton plans to close it down. That is tax payer dollars at work. Its rediculous, but I'd rather shut down stations than pay more taxes.

[vicupstate]

Shutting down a fires station will normally, or typically, RAISE homeowner's insurance for those served by said station(s).  BUT HEY, so what,  my taxes didn't go up !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Timkin]

Any idea of why some of the historic preservation fund could not be used to relocate Fire Station No. 5? 

Because people like M-Train would object to it ??

[Kay]

Any idea of why some of the historic preservation fund could not be used to relocate Fire Station No. 5? 

The building has to be locally designated as historic and the Fire Station is not.