Renovations of old downtown fire station begin
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on March 11, 2007 9:40 AM
Renovations have begun at the old fire station on Ash Street to convert it to business use.
The Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation announced last year that the historic building had been sold to Ladder 39 LLC.
DGDC Director Julie Thompson and the city's Inspections Department confirmed that the company was listed as the new owner.
The city has issued a permit to contractor Kerry Thompson to do the renovations, Chief Building Inspector Ed Cianfarra said last week.
"They'll patch the walls and put in old antique brick where the bays were to close it in and do repairs so it will meet code," Cianfarra said. "They've cleaned out an ungodly number of dumpster loads."
The contractor will have to replace the plumbing in the whole building, he said. Vandals have ripped out the copper pipes and a lot of the old wiring.
"When any building is left unattended today for a period of time, vandals will break in and take the copper," Cianfarra said.
The building needs major repairs because of damage done by vandals, he added.
Cianfarra said the contractor has patched the roof and has started work on the building. He has removed some of the asbestos tiles from the floor. Cost of the project is estimated at $200,000.
Cianfarra said the new owner has not announced plans for the building, but that it would be commercial and not residential.