Lion statues guard St. Augustine's iconic Bridge of Lions. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
Published on November 13, 2024 at 10:24 am
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A new fire station is on the way for Anastasia Island residents, and after years of searching, St. Augustine has found a home for it — it just comes with a $4 million price tag.
The city says Anastasia Island is in dire need of a new fire station. The current station is 70 years old and not large enough to accommodate modern equipment. With an eye to the future, the St. Augustine City Commission agreed Tuesday night to buy a plot of land for the island’s brand new station.
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The new location will sit just 1 mile north of the existing fire station, but city officials say a new building will make a world of difference.
“This will act as our center for emergency preparedness and response for storms for all of our neighborhoods on Anastasia Island,” City Manager David Birchim told the City Commission. “It will be a state of the art modern fire station that will serve our community for generations.”
Finding a home for the new station has been a long time coming. For several years, St. Augustine had its eyes on a plot of land owned by the state. When a plan to secure that plot didn’t work out, the city identified 500 Anastasia Blvd.
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The 1.27-acre plot is currently home to Blue Water Jewelers. The property is valued at $3.8 million, but the city has agreed to pay $200,000 above that value to buy it.
City Manager David Birchim says paying so much for the land isn’t ideal, but between the owner agreeing to part with land not on the market and its ideal location, it’s hard to pass up.
Not only is 500 Anastasia Blvd. in the heart of the Island, the station would be close enough to the dangerous intersection at Red Cox Drive and Anastasia Boulevard that it would make for fast responses.
“Above all,” Birchim said, “this is a public safety initiative.”
In addition to the location, Birchim says the city will receive $750,000 from the state to help cover the cost of designing the new station. The city also has its eyes on the next legislative session as a potential opportunity to secure some more state funds.
Construction of the station is a ways off, and for the time being — for as long as the next two years — Blue Water Jeweler will continue to operate in its current location while the jewelers hunt for a new home.
