Jamesville voters in 2007 defeated a proposal for a new fire station. The fire department came back with a new proposal that included a pledge to keep the old station as a community center and keep a rescue truck there. In 2008, voters approved the new $3.4 million fire station. Now the Jamesville Fire Department is considering selling the...
Mary Cargian stands in front of the old Jamesville Fire Department building at 6486 E. Seneca Turnpike (Rt. 173). Cargian, a long-time Jamesville resident, is among some residents who think the fire department should sell the building. Others want to use it as a community center, parking lot or for a park. Jamesville voters in 2007 defeated a proposal for a new fire station.
The fire department came back with a new proposal that included a pledge to keep the old station as a community center and keep a rescue truck there. In 2008, voters approved the new $3.4 million fire station.
Now the Jamesville Fire Department is considering selling the property at 6486 E. Seneca Turnpike (Rt. 173), and some residents say that’s going back on its pledges.¶
Fire commissioners, however, say keeping the old station open is costing taxpayers $20,000 a year for maintenance and utilities, and will soon cost them more because it needs repairs. They say the new building has a community center and the hamlet doesn’t need two.
The department began considering a sale after receiving several inquiries about the building’s status, Fire Chief Kevin Carver said at a recent informational meeting. The department wants to ask residents what they want to do, he said. The fire district would need a referendum authorizing it to pursue the sale, and then it could hire an appraiser and attorney.
Residents are divided over what to do: some want to keep the station or turn it into a green space or a park, and others want to sell it and put the property back on the tax rolls. They debated the various options at the recent meeting, sponsored by the fire department.
Keeping the station as a community center was something the department was going to try for a year or two and see how it worked, said Todd Schanbacher,one of the commissioners.¶
"As a fire district, we are through with that building and have no need for it," Schanbacher said. "We want to hear what the community wants to do."
The new fire station at 6661 E. Seneca Turnpike (Rt. 173)is nearly double the size of the old station, which was built in 1956. In literature distributed before the second referendum, the fire department said the old station "will provide the fire department a "second responders" location and continue to use the community room as it is currently utilized."
Resident Donna Ferguson said she thinks the department’s promise helped convince people to vote for the new station.
Vicki Baker, a longtime Jamesville resident and town board member, said residents were assured the station would remain a community center.
"They want to unload it," she said. "Now we’re looking at this hole in our hamlet. What we do about this going to be hard. We have to make sure we get all the ideas out, and then look at something that will benefit everyone."
There are two adjoining parcels owned by the fire district, and the Jamesville Community Museum officials say they might like to have some of that space for public parking. "We just want to see it become a community asset," said Marvin Bodley,a museum trustee.¶
Mary Cargian, real estate agent who’s lived three houses from the old station for 57 years, said she’s been contacted by a potential buyer who would turn it possibly into a small retail shop/professional offices.¶
"I’d like to see a commercial enterprise in there, and the property put back on the tax rolls," she said. "The site has prime visibility, space for parking and its flat," she said. "We’ve got the highest taxes in DeWitt, and selling it would help mitigate our tax increases."¶
Jim Grubb, another resident, said he’d like to see a representative committee set up that reflects everyone’s interests. "Half the people don’t want to pay extra taxes to keep it, but some do," he said. "I just think selling it would save us money. We don’t need two fire departments."¶
Elizabeth Doran can be reached at edoran@syracuse.com or 470-3012