Swissvale VFD Buys New Building, Plans Move for This Spring

The closed on a deal Wednesday that will move its quarters to Irvine Street by March of 2012, with a 15-year savings of $1.2 million to the .

After a $175K grant came in from the Allegheny County Department of Community and Economic Development last week, paired with the sale of the current space to Lifestat Ambulance, said it was a perfect opportunity, leaving the borough with no cost for the move.

“We’ve been working very hard towards constructing a new station to consolidate the career and volunteer fire departments, mostly in part from a study conducted by the state in 2009, and we are very happy to say we are moving forward at a point where we expect to break ground in September—next month,” Wilhelm said.

Wilhelm made the announcement at Swissvale Council’s agenda meeting Wednesday night.

The fire department bought the Stathers Funeral Home building, along with a 24,000 square foot lot on the property. The volunteer fire department’s building was sold to Lifestat, with whom an arrangement also has been made to house the current equipment until the fire department’s new building is constructed and the move is complete.

“This puts everything in place so that we are able to do this, and the project overall with the property acquisition is going to cost $850,000 with no cost to the taxpayers, the borough or the general fund,” Wilhelm said.

The department has arranged the financing of the new building to cover the rest of the costs.

“This has been a huge undertaking and there has been a lot of divine intervention that has allowed things to line up and I am very grateful for that,” Wilhelm said. “I am grateful for the support of the elected officials as well as the department.”

All operations should be moved into the new space at Irvine by March 1. There are five garage bays planned for the new space, along with offices in the existing funeral home building, a physical fitness room, and apartments for a future college

“It’s a great day for the borough,” said Swissvale Council President Dave Petrarca.

Council member Sharon Hanchett also congratulated the chief.

“The long range savings are really going to help the borough,” she said.