The Selectmen were given a new look at the upcoming Boston Road Fire Station last week, as well as an update on the station’s construction timeline.
Permanent Town Building Committee Chairman Tom Mahanna joined representatives of Dore & Whittier Architects to provide a presentation on what’s left to accomplish before the station becomes a reality.
Just over $11.7 million was approved for the facility by Town Meeting voters in March 2015 along with just over $1 million for a combined Fire/Police Dispatch center to be constructed in the location of the current Police Department Training Room.
The schematic designs for the building were submitted earlier in November, with a pricing estimate expected on Dec. 7. Additional design and construction estimates are expected to be released throughout the next several months, with bidding to take place between June and August.
Located across from the former Drew Gardens/Eric’s property at the corner of Boston Road and Blakes Hill Road, the station is expected to take up only the southern part of its proposed lot due to topographical challenges faced as Boston Road undulates into the center of town.
A twin-door double apparatus bay would provide an apron for fire trucks to access either Boston Road or Blakes Hill Road depending on the situation, with access to the public located through the Blakes Hill Road entrance.
The building would also hold two floors, with a brick exterior architectural design created to emulate other historic buildings in town such as the Abbot Mills and the J.V. Fletcher Library.
Selectman Kelly Ross asked Mahanna and his colleagues why plans for the first floor provided a private bathroom and shower area solely for Fire Department Chief Joseph Targ and Deputy Chief Dan Britko when there are other bathroom facilities on the first floor.
“This building, the construction of which is being paid for through a tax increase,” said Ross. “So I think taxpayers are looking for us to make sure our money’s being spent wisely. So we have an attractive and functional building, but otherwise a no-frill, ‘keep costs under control’ building.”
After Dore & Whittier representatives indicated that many other Fire Department facilities hold what amount to “executive wings” as department leaders’ work schedules make their offices double as living areas.
Targ also told the board that there currently is a bathroom outside his current office and there is a bathroom outside Westford Police Chief Thomas McEnaney’s office as well after the new Westford Police Department Headquarters was constructed in 2000.
Video of the meeting is available at westfordcat.org, with the presentation beginning at approximately the 58:00 mark.
