The village of Northbrook has agreed to buy a two-acre residential site for nearly $1 million for use as a fire station, and has also agreed to spend $2.3 million on a space to likely be used as a future maintenance garage.
The Village Board voted unanimously on Sept. 24 to approve the purchase of 3504 Commercial Ave., an industrial space owned by Glenkirk, an organization offering services for the disabled, and of 820 Dundee Road, a home owned by Carmelita Carriaga.
Trustee Joy Ebhomielen, chairwoman of the board’s Public Works and Facilities Committee, combined the two agenda items into one vote.
“They relate to our exciting next steps for our maintenance (garage) and our Fire Station 11,” Ebhomielen said. “I would like to make a motion to direct staff to proceed with the necessary actions to purchase both.”
The new Fire Station 11, which would replace the existing station at 740 Dundee Road, will act as a satellite station only, Village Manager Cara Pavlicek said in a written report to the board. Northbrook will evaluate the “feasibility” of moving the fire administration, located in the current Station 11, to another location, Pavlicek said.
“Preliminary options under consideration for fire administration include at Fire Station 10, 650 Huehl Road, which is located on a 3.2 acre parcel, as well as temporarily maintaining fire administration at the current location and evaluating the timing of the ‘fourth’ satellite fire station at Northbrook Court and feasibility of land at that location for fire administration,” she said.
Design and construction of the new Fire Station 11 is expected to take 23 months, she said. The administrative offices might remain there during construction, Pavlicek said.
The former Glenkirk space will be “adaptively reused” from its existing use as a not-for-profit to the fleet maintenance garage, she said. Under the purchase agreement, Glenkirk will be allowed to lease back the property to Northbrook for up to a year or until the village acquires another nearby parcel at 3300 Dundee Road, Pavlicek said.
“This time will allow for completion of the design work for the adaptive reuse of the property,” she said.
The current Fire Station 11, which spans 17,125 square feet, was built in 1971, with administrative space added in 1988, Pavlicek said.
The facility faces many capital repairs and equipment replacement issues, she said. The building, Pavlicek said, needs:
– Repair or replacement of front and rear bay exterior framing due to severe corrosion.
– Tuckpointing and repair of outside insulation to protect against water penetration and damage.
– Replacement of four roof sections.
– Installation of locks allowing key fob use.
– Construction of a front lobby window with a security system.
– HVAC repairs.
– Female locker and bunk rooms.
– Accessibility updates to the men’s locker room.
– Electrical repairs.
– Sprinklers.
– ADA accessible bathrooms.
– Ventilation, drainage and fire compliance improvements.
– Plumbing work.
– Painting.
– Kitchen improvements.
– An additional door for safety.
The current fleet maintenance garage, which spans 11,250 square feet, was constructed in 1956 and expanded in 1967, she said. It served as the original public works center until it was converted to a garage in 1980.