City begins process of selling two historic stations
Beacon officials said they received four proposals by a Thursday (Dec. 19) deadline from real-estate agencies that hope to broker the sale of two century-old former firehouses that were emptied when a central fire station opened this year near City Hall.
The city requested proposals on Dec. 2 to oversee the sale of Mase Hook and Ladder on Main Street and the Beacon Engine Co. station on East Main. City officials said they want a broker who is familiar with Beacon and has five years or more of “exceptional” experience marketing historic buildings for adaptive reuse.
The City Council voted in 2020 to close the 130-year-old Beacon Engine firehouse and rehabilitate Mase, which is 113 years old, and the Lewis Tompkins Hose Co. station on South Avenue. By 2022, the city had pivoted, and construction began in June 2023 on a $14.7 million project to tear down and rebuild Tompkins Hose.
Reoriented to face Wolcott Avenue, modernized with extensive safety measures and enlarged to 16,400 square feet, the facility opened in October and was dedicated Nov. 16. During its construction, firefighters worked from Mase and the Highway Department garage on Camp Beacon Road.
During the council’s meeting on Monday (Dec. 16), Mayor Lee Kyriacou said the city plans to use the proceeds from the sales to indirectly fund $1.5 million spent at the new station to construct it with real brick and to include a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Mase, a three-story brick building at 425 Main St., was built in the Renaissance Revival style. The façade has two arched fire-cart doors (one is now the main entrance) with glass panels and stone labels with keystones. The building is eligible for historic preservation.
Verizon Wireless leases rooftop space for an antenna and a fenced area at ground level for equipment. According to the request for proposals, the city anticipates assigning the lease to the new owner. Beacon hopes to keep the parking lot behind the building and eventually open it to the public.
Beacon Engine, located at 57 East Main St., is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has a brick, steel and wood façade with a garage bay.
Both properties are part of the historic district, which has its own architectural and design standards and requires Planning Board approval for exterior alterations. The buildings will be sold with covenants that restrict renaming the properties or altering or defacing their historical features.
The city does not require competitive bidding for professional services, but City Administrator Chris White said this week that he chose to issue a request for proposals to keep the process transparent and ensure competitive proposals.
A Facebook poll on what to do with Mase prompted nearly 300 responses, with suggestions including a community center, a city museum or a center for social services. Many residents said it should remain a fire station.
However, White said it would be “incredibly expensive” to convert the building to another municipal use because of a state law that requires multiple contractors for public construction projects and other codes that would not apply to a private developer.
White said he hopes to see a developer transform the building into a “vibrant, forward-facing public space that helps activate that part of the block,” similar to how Hudson Beach Glass repurposed the original Tompkins Hose firehouse at 162 Main St. The city hopes to have both stations sold by the spring, he said.
The two decommissioned firehouses are more than just bricks and mortar: They’re a part of Beacon’s history and hold potential for the city’s future. While selling the properties outright might seem straightforward, there’s an opportunity for a compromise that benefits everyone by adding a long-term lease option to the request for proposals (RFP). A long-term lease would reduce the upfront financial burden for developers, making the properties more accessible to a wider range of proposals. This increased competition could result in projects that prioritize preservation and align with the community’s goals, rather than simply focusing on financial returns. A triple-net lease would shift the responsibility for property taxes, insurance and maintenance to the lessee, ensuring a steady income stream for the city without operational headaches. If needed, the city could even outsource lease administration to a professional brokerage. Leasing the properties would allow the city to retain ownership, preserving their long-term value. Predictable lease revenues could also be leveraged for low-cost financing, providing a smarter alternative to bonds or other costly debt. By retaining ownership, the city can repurpose the buildings, such as recreational spaces, small business incubators or emergency services. For residents like me in Ward 3, this is particularly important given the increased response times caused by the fire department’s relocation to the other side of town. This proposal isn’t about replacing the sale option, but about giving the city the flexibility to choose the best path forward. A long-term lease option balances immediate financial needs with long-term… Read more »