By: Sharon Aron Baron
The demolition of Tamarac fire station 78 officially began on Tuesday when bulldozers started razing the 38 year-old building in order to start construction on a newer, larger station.
Built in 1978, the station, one of four in the City, sits on Commercial Boulevard next to the Florida Turnpike. The fire station will soon be rebuilt with a 9,300-square-foot facility, including an upgraded fitness room, and office space and a day room for firefighters. The new cost is estimated at $3.8 million.
In January 2015, the commission voted to rent land in the parking space of the Mainlands 5 clubhouse for the temporary fire station at a cost of $2,000 per month for up to two years. A modular building that houses the emergency personnel will also be rented at a cost of $3,500 and $50,000 will be spent to prepare the location.
According to the Sun Sentinel, commission approved a contract with West Construction, a South Florida-based company, for the demolition of the existing 6,000-square-foot building and design of the new one. The estimated time needed for completion of the project is 580 days. The facility will be constructed with LEED-certified products, but the city will not seek LEED certification.
One of the benefits of the new station is that it will be turned facing the adjacent street of NW 47th Terrace for access instead of busy Commercial Boulevard.
Watch the demolition here.
