Fire (Station) in the Hole

Posts Tagged ‘Fire Station 3’

Many have asked when the fire station construction is going to start. Here is the answer according to Rick Pinsky, Arlington County’s FS3 project manager:

“Due to status of the Final Engineering Plan approval and site transfer delay FD&C has not issued a Notice To Proceed to Whiting – Turner.

Whiting-Turner will not accept the site due to excess soil on the site (this is the site transfer issue).  FD&C needs a timeline from Keane’s for removal of the soil from the site.  With recent weather conditions, a snow covered site and then dry out, it will be difficult for Keane’s to venture a guess.

Once FD&C has issued a NTP, Whiting-Turner will have 395 days to complete the project.  If FD&C issued a NTP on March 1, 2010, the project should be completed by March 31, 2011.“

So there you have it . (Keane is the construction manager for the Koons Toyota Garage)

One other Q&A – I was asked if Koons is permanently parking its cars on 21st Rd near Lee. The answer is I hope not. The cars parking there now belong to construction employees. When the garage is completed there is no parking on 21st Rd. from Lee Hwy to the west end of the fire station.

Last weekend mystical eleves striped the three Koons garage levels. I didn’t even notice the work was being done until it was. Oddly it’s a good sight to see because it means the garage is that much closer to completion. Not much other real excitement.

Striped :

South Facade Looking West:

Brick Veneer On East Side Creeps Northward:

Preparing for Window Grids on West Facade:

I think this is how we all feel now. (If you can’t tell what it is, its snow breeching the northern wall of the Koons Toyota garage.)

Here’s a before Snowpocalypse I and after Snowpocalypse II. First picture was taken Feb 1, right after the Jan 28 mini storm that dropped a few inches. Second picture was taken yesterday morning. Yeah, wow.

If you are wondering how this affects the completion of the garage and “Ground Breaking” for Fire Station 3, Arlington County has a progress meeting with the FS3 contractor, Whiting-Turner scheduled for Feb 17. That should be around the time FS3 construction starts in earnest.

Railings for Lee Hwy stairwell exit were installed last week. Oddly though they route employees away from the dealership. Take a look at the picture below to see what I mean. I’m not sure why they didn’t just put in a couple steps on the east side of the pad to create a direct route.

The veener work is now approx 2/3rds complete, with the east side to be completed probably this week. County’s last estimate was that they would be able to issue a occupancy permit by the end of the month so we’ll see if that happens. As soon as Koons can turn the lights on fire station construction will finally start.

I was asked if I had any drawings of the fire station, which I do, and had been meaning to post for the last two years. So I have finally done it and just in the nick of time. Click on the “Architectural Drawings” tab above to take a look. I’ll post the interior layout in February too.

DVR Alert: Totally not FS3 related but the 3rd season of Damages starts up tomorrow (1/25) on FX. If you like plot twisting, shady dealings, back stabbing, triller, mystery shows with love-to-hate characters,   I highly recommend it. Better than anything you’ll find on network TV. However, you might want to first catch season 1 for free on Crackle or it won’t make sense. (You are on your own finding Season 2, though not as essential). It’s a non-linear show so patience is required. It takes a couple episodes to lose the WTF ‘tude. Then you are hooked like a red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Lee Hwy Entry Guard Rail Prevents People From Walking Directly To The Dealership; Roof Partially Installed:

Brick Veener Completed on Lee Hwy Side:

Garage on Old Dominion Looking Southeast:

Close-Up of the Grids — Ugly Generic Industrial, But Not Visible With FS3 Next Door:

FS3 Plot Cleared And Ready: