Shaker Heights is taking a hard look at Fire Station No. 2, a mid-century workhorse that firefighters say no longer fits the job. City officials are weighing whether to pour money into a major overhaul or scrap the aging building altogether and start fresh, with a consultant study set to map out the long-term costs and operational impacts of each option. While that analysis gets underway, the council has signed off on study funding and is chasing federal grant dollars for new turnout-gear washers.
City hires architect to map options
According to the city’s Safety & Public Works materials, the council approved a personal-services contract with Perspectus Architecture for a Fire Station 2 master plan and concept design not to exceed $184,500. The work will review structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and generate phased concept options for the council to consider, as per the City of Shaker Heights.
Old layout, limited sleeping and gear rooms
The station, which opened in 1950 on Warrensville Center Road, has seen only limited upgrades over the years, and the layout is showing its age. Equipment rooms and crew living spaces are cramped, and the department’s gear-cleaning machines are decades old, which complicates both decontamination and accommodations. As reported by Cleveland.com, Chief Patrick Sweeney has described the current setup as “not optimal.”
Grant money could buy new washers for turnout gear
To at least tackle the laundry problem, the council authorized applying for a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant to pay for a commercial washer-extractor and dryer to clean turnout gear. The package is estimated at about $75,000 and would require a local match of roughly 10 percent, or about $7,500, if the grant comes through. “The council authorized a $75,000 FEMA grant application for new uniform cleaning equipment,” Cleveland.com reported. FEMA’s FY2025 AFG/SAFER application window runs May 19–June 22. Program details are outlined on the grant page at USFA / FEMA.
Renovate or rebuild? The numbers will decide
City leaders say the master plan is meant to put clear numbers and side-by-side scenarios in front of the council so there are no surprises. In buildings of this vintage, piecemeal fixes can creep up toward the cost of new construction. That mix of long-term maintenance, crew accommodations, and how well operations can continue during any work is expected to drive whatever recommendation Perspectus ultimately brings back.
RFP response, timeline and other upgrades
The city’s request for proposals drew 11 submissions, and four firms were interviewed before Perspectus was selected. The study will be paid for from the city’s capital budget. At the same time, the council has been moving other safety upgrades along: earlier this spring, it approved buying five Stryker LifePak 35 cardiac monitors as the department tries to balance day-to-day equipment replacement with longer-range station planning, according to the City of Shaker Heights.
Perspectus is expected to deliver concept options and preliminary cost estimates later this year. After that, the council plans to hold hearings and public briefings before committing to any major capital project. For now, the city is opting for a deliberate, data-driven approach, while looking to federal funding to help modernize how Shaker Heights firefighters are protected and housed.
