MERRILL, Wis. (WSAU) — Merrill’s old fire station could remain intact with a new owner and new use, if a federal agency gives a final approval. City Administrator Dave Johnson says the Merrill Housing Authority wants the property to service their housing units around town, including Jenny Towers which is next door. Now, Johnson says it’s up to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. “We re-bid it out. They were the high bidder at $350,000 dollars. They are now in the process of getting HUD (Housing and Urban Development) approval. That requires an appraisal of the property, which has been done, and they’re waiting for the results on that. It also requires a phase-one environmental assessment. That inspection has already been done and they’re waiting for the results on that as well.”
Both the Housing Authority and the city have to wait for HUD before any additional progress can be made. Johnson says that could be several months away.
The old fire hall didn’t meet the fire department’s needs anymore, but Johnson says the Housing Authority could put it to good use while preserving a historic 1917 structure. “The old equipment bay in the back, they would use as a maintenance shop for their maintenance personnel and equipment for the Jenny Towers and the other high rise they have, as well as the individual housing units they have throughout the city.”
The Housing Authority has been aware the building needs several repairs. “Well, it will definitely have to be remodelled. They already knew going in that it needed a new roof. It has a shingled on it now, on the old part that was built in 1917. The part that was built in 1988 is fine. There’s no problem with the roof on that one, and the 1917 portion of the building is very sound, structurally. It just got too old to be used as a fire station as it was totally outdated and it was too small.”
Merrill’s fire department moved into their new location last May, and the old fire hall has been vacant since.
