The City of Victoria has unveiled its plan to build a new public safety building, complete with fire and rescue services and the city’s first purpose-built emergency operations centre.
The proposed state-of-the-art, post seismic rated facility would be located on Johnson Street with an open date sometime in 2022.
The building will meet the upcoming changes to the BC Building Code standards designed and is designed to remain operable after a disaster such as an earthquake, the city says.
The 41,700 square-foot building will replace the current fire headquarters on Yates Street that has been in operation since 1959.
“Moving the fire hall from Yates to downtown in a mixed-use building really makes sense with all the density we are seeing,” said Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps.
The two-storey station and headquarters will also host B.C. ambulance facilities.
“The synergies of having the emergency responders together … would be a huge advantage,” said Victoria Fire Chief Paul Bruce.
The fire headquarters will remain on Yates Street while the new facility is being built.
According to the city, the $36-million needed for the project will come from a debt reserve fund.
The mayor says the city is also looking to densify and developers of the project are being encouraged to build up.
“I’d love if we have a fire hall with affordable housing on top,” Helps said.
On Thursday, council could green light the new seismically safe station.
With a report from CTV Vancouver Island’s Scott Cunningham
