December 2021 New Firehouse Update
 
December 28, 2021
 

Happy New Year to All!

First, we would like to thank the many residents who continue to express their support and excitement for us at the visible progress on the new firehouse. It means a lot to us.

Our projected timeline continues to look towards a move-in date just in time for the 100th Anniversary of the Bedford Fire Department in 2023. The project is currently 4 to 6 weeks behind the initial projected schedule, some of which can be attributed to weather. Supply chain issues are being addressed by ordering supplies early and storing on site, or by substituting equivalent products where necessary.

Touring the site, we can now really see the spaces on the first level take shape. The things that really excite us?
    Apparatus floor with adequate space for every truck, engine and ambulance
    Gear locker room adjacent to apparatus floor
    Radio room with visual access to the apparatus floor
    Showers!
    The training mezzanine has its first training element roughed in

The trusses that are up above the rear of the second floor will support the roof but do not represent the roofline: we think the trusses look like the building is wearing a tiara, but the actual roofline will be classic and simple.

Based on questions from the public:

1. The dirt pile at the front of the construction site, while smaller than it had been, is now staying as is for the winter. It has been seeded and has an erosion fence for containment.

2. The landscaping plan will not be finalized until we are closer to that part of the project, but the plan is to go as low-maintenance as possible and to use native species. You can expect to see meadow grasses that are mowed only once or twice a year.
    We know that there are many invasive species' seeds present in our soil. These accumulated over time: the property had been a farm and residence, and since becoming overgrown was widely used for dumping garden and landscaping cuttings for decades.
Our challenge with the landscape plan? Making it beautiful while keeping it native, low maintenance, and low cost.

3. Can you include an EV charging station? At this time, we don't want to commit to any one manufacturer's charging station, thinking that before long there will be a universal option. We are preparing for the eventuality by laying a conduit under our driveway from our utility pole so that when the time comes to install an EV charger, we won't have to go through asphalt.