Although not as high profile as the new library, the central fire station has also been going through a site selection process. The former central fire station on Third Street NW was flooded in 2008 and has been closed since that time. In the meantime, the fire department has been inhabiting a number of temporary spaces around the city.
To better centralize the new fire station, three sites have been chosen across the river from the existing station. The three are next to each other, with one housing a Taco Bell and another the History Center. I am not sure how much of the block they intend to occupy, but I would hope the fire station will go with a a layout as compact as possible to help promote more density in that area of the city. Most of the neighborhood is dotted with newer drive-thru banks, strip malls, and used car lots with deep setbacks of paved parking lots facing the streets. It feels very suburban, rather than urban as it should be.
There are a couple reasons these three blocks are strongly favored. Most importantly, this area is in the dead center of Cedar Rapids, and centralization is key to minimal response time. Secondly, all three will have quick and direct access to I-380. And finally, my assumption is that A Avenue will prove to be very valuable at times, since it is the only viaduct other than I-380 that travels over the single railroad track through downtown. The same railroad track that constantly backs up traffic during the evening rush. Nothing would be worse than being stuck on First, sirens blaring and fire raging on the other side of the tracks, with the train *stopping* *backing* *stopping* *screeching forward* *stopping again* and finally moving out ten minutes later.
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