The site of the defunct Fire Station 3 off 113th Avenue is set to transform. The City Council, stepping away from the location's public service history, has green-lit an amendment to the city's comprehensive plan, coupled with an ordinance that paves the way for its rezoning to residential use. Seven to eight single-family homes are now slated to rise on the two-acre plot, contributing to the neighborhood's low-density residential makeup.
Got designs on developing in the area? The city staff's ears are open, as proposals from developers are currently being accepted. This move comes after Fire Station 3 was rendered vacant back in January 2024, firefighters having decamped to a newer facility. According to the City of Coon Rapids press release, the former fire station is nestled among a mix of other single-family homes and some multi-family dwellings, suggesting that the new development will blend into the existing community fabric.
Ominous as it may sound, the old fire station's fate is sealed — demolition is on the docket. However, in a play of patience, construction on the new homes won't break ground immediately. Instead, it's a next-year agenda item, after all necessary plans have been firmly etched into place.
Neighbors and prospective homebuyers may be marking their calendars, as the actual embodiment of the new homes will unfurl "sometime next year," the City of coon Rapids suggests. This development marks a notable shift in the site's use, transitioning from a public safety role to a purely residential purview. For those keen to follow the progress or throw a proposal into the ring, updates and details are available through the City of Coon Rapids’ official channels.
