Several Augusta Commissioners are openly favoring selling the historic Engine Company 7 Firehouse since the Augusta Fire Department continues to allow the building to deteriorate with no concrete plans for its future use.
The Central Avenue fire station has not been operational since 2003, according to past press reports.
Some commissioners favor selling the property to save it and put the property back on the tax digest.
At its Oct. 11 meeting the Public Safety Committee discussed what to do with the property which was built in 1914 and housed Augusta’s first motorized fire engine.
District 3 Commissioner Catherine McKnight produced photographs she had taken of the building which show missing windowpanes and severe damage to the roof. The building also still shows scars from a recent damaging hailstorm.
According to Augusta Fire Chief Antonio Burden, the cost of roof repair would be approximately $250,000, a figure that he does not have in his budget.
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At the meeting, District 1 Commissioner Jordan Johnson was the first to advocate selling the building, calling it an “eyesore” that the city could allow to be transformed into something special by attempting to attract private investment.
“I think that when we have issues like this we need to be leaning on the private sector,” Johnson said.
McKnight, who placed the matter on the agenda, has long advocated for the city to divest itself of buildings the city no longer uses. In the past, she has recommended buildings such as the Boathouse at the Marina and the fire station be sold off, especially in cases when the city lacks the ability to keep them maintained.
For nearly two decades, there has been talk about leasing the building and having it operate as a firefighters’ museum. Not only does the unique Spanish Colonial Revival architecture remind of the past, but the building also contains relics such as a 1924 American La France fire engine.
However, despite years of discussions, no real plans for a museum have materialized. Burden told the committee that his administration is wanting to put the museum idea back on the table.
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“I’ve been around the country and looked at other (firefighters) museums. I have seen how they operate in the context of a fire department, and I don’t think there is one in the state of Georgia,” Burden said.
According to Burden, his office is taking the “first steps” in formulating a plan.
“I’m looking at it and I’m seeing a pretty cool restaurant with a museum up top,” said District 8 Commissioner Brandon Garrett.
District 5 Commissioner Bobby Williams attempted to chastise McKnight for bringing up the matter in public instead of discussing it privately with Burden.
The outspoken McKnight was undeterred.
“I have brought this up four times and nothing has gotten done. I brought it to the floor again and on live stream so that citizens are updated. I keep getting asked about it,” McKnight said.
Scott Hudson is the senior reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com
