Creston’s new fire hall has a home, right next to Pealow’s Your Independent Grocer on Cook street.
The land was acquired by the Town from Loblaws incorporated at a reduced price according to Chief Administrative Officer Mike Moore.
“They had expressed that that land was excess land to them. They were not going to sell it to anyone else because they wanted to protect their business interests. But selling it to the municipality was something that would not compete with their business interests and was something they were willing to do.”
The final price will be released soon as both parties are finalising the deal.
“The land purchase was done significantly less than what we budgeted for,” Explains Moore. “We had budgeted $600,000 for the land acquisitions and it’s significantly less than that.”
Aspects of the fire hall including storm water collection, natural cooling and design, including an Art fixture, was discussed between Architect Kimberly Johnston of Johnston Davidson Architecture and committee members. Final plans will be completed in roughly a month according to Johnston.
Meanwhile, as final plans draw near, BC Ambulance Service and the Town of Creston are hammering out an agreement to potentially share the space between BC Ambulance Services and Creston Fire Rescue, making the project a multifaceted emergency services building. Under a new agreement to co-locate facilities, BC Ambulance would continue to lease from the Town in the new building.
The conversation is ongoing and an official announcement is on the horizon.