The City of Oakland Park held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for a new Fire Rescue Station 9. This brand-new facility will replace the existing Fire Station 9, completed in 1967 on Park Lane/NE 38th Street and 3rd Avenue. The new station will be built three blocks east, at 599 Park Lane/NE 38th Street and NE 6th Avenue.
“It’s exciting to mark the beginning of construction on Oakland Park’s first new fire station in more than 40 years,” said Mayor Aisha Gordon. “Following City Park and North Andrews Gardens, we continue to deliver on our commitment to provide the community with a series of high-quality facilities leading up to our centennial in 2029”, Mayor Gordon continued.
Ivestment in Public Safety
The new Station 9 represents a municipal investment of more than $16.6 million into public safety, fire, and emergency medical services. The 19,800-square-foot project includes a new two-story, three-bay fire station. It will serve as a centralized hub for Fire Rescue in Oakland Park, with Operations on the first floor and fire administration and prevention on the second floor.
“Our Fire Rescue Department looks forward to having a new, modern station and providing an enhanced level of service to our residents,” said Fire Chief Stephen Krivjanik. “This facility will be our new administrative home and represents the next step in Oakland Park’s bright future,” Krivjanik continued.
An Architectural Showpiece Downtown
The main focal point of the station’s design reflects Oakland Park’s commitment to sustainability and resiliency. The south face of the building will feature an artistic metal façade made from recycled materials fabricated through a sustainable manufacturing process that uses 100% solar and wind energy. The site will also include restrooms for the adjacent park, on-street parking on NE 6th Avenue, and signal improvements on Park Lane/NE 38th Street and NE 6th Avenue to improve traffic flow.
The new station will serve as an architectural showpiece in the heart of Oakland Park. The design reflects other planned projects to create a consistent and cohesive look for future city facilities. The station is in a qualified census tract, a federal designation for underperforming areas.
Another Piece of a Larger Devevelopment Project
The City Commission adopted a resolution in November 2022 to set the guaranteed maximum price and award construction services to Kaufman Lynn. ACAI Associates will oversee architectural and engineering services. CES Engineering will serve as the mechanical, engineering, and plumbing (MEP) consultant.
The City has secured $2.5 million in grant funding for the project. The existing Station 9 will remain operational during construction. Upon completion, the site of the current Station 9 will become part of the City Park complex.
Fire Station 9 is the third new bond project to begin construction as part of the City’s Comprehensive Facilities Plan aimed at Building Oakland Park’s Second Century. Funded through a bond approved by 67 percent of voters in 2018, the Facilities Plan is a ten-year redevelopment initiative to construct and renovate several buildings in Oakland Park. The City broke ground on the North Andrews Gardens Community Center in July and opened City Park Phase I in October 2022.
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