City selects location for new South Side fire station

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- City officials agreed on the final location for a new South Side fire station at 303 East Hyde Park Ave. in St. Joseph.

The department recently partnered with the architectural firm SEH to begin conceptual planning for the new Fire Station 10, evaluating three proposed locations in the south side, with this one identified as the most efficient.

“This took a lot of planning and it was a tough decision before we reached one,” said Jamey McVicker, St. Joseph Fire Department interim fire chief. “Our driving force has always been response times. We want to reach the community within four minutes of receiving a call.” 

Other potential locations for the fire station included 5008 King Hill Ave. and 212 Alabama St. The challenge with the King Hill Avenue site was its location being too far north, which would hinder a timely response to the south end of the city. 

While the 212 Alabama Street site fell within an acceptable response time range, the financial drawback was significant, as the city does not own that property like it does the one at East Hyde Park Avenue. 

“The budget for this project was $4.29 million, and I estimate the savings from choosing this location to be between $200,000 and $400,000,” McVicker said. 

Placing the fire station at 303 East Hyde Park Ave. also allows for future expansion, should the city continue to grow. 

“More importantly, this is about the city’s anticipated future growth,” City Manager Mike Schumacher said. “Fire stations last a long time -- 50 years or more. So, it’s not just about what we need today but what we expect to need 25 or 30 years from now. That’s a key part of how this was planned.” 

Although discussions are still in the early stages, SJFD is exploring a collaboration with Buchanan County EMS to co-locate the new station under one roof, enhancing team-based response efforts.