From the Chelmsford Independent: A survey of several Massachusetts fire station projects indicates a $7.5 million department headquarters could be realistic for Chelmsford, whose officials are considering such a plan.

Built in 1952, Chelmsford’s current Center Fire Station suffers from a leaking, unstable floor; out-of-date technology; and a lack of space for modern engines, equipment and personnel, as Fire Chief Mike Curran and state inspectors attest. Chelmsford voters have rejected all new station proposals, most recently a $9.1 million station over its location and price.

Since last month, Permanent Building Committee Chairman Pat Maloney and Town Manager Paul Cohen have supported a new idea: Building an addition on the back of the town offices and using what are now the Department of Public Work offices as administrative space after the DPW moves out. Maloney predicts a cost in the mid-$7 million range.

Ware, whose population is less than a third of Chelmsford, successfully began work on a 22,000-square-foot station on town-owned land for $7 million, just $500,000 less than Chelmsford’s tentative $7.5 million goal for a new station. Chatham, which like Chelmsford is planning a new station proposal for spring 2012 Town Meeting, has only a fifth of Chelmsford’s population, but is shooting for a $9 million project. Meanwhile Franklin, whose population is comparable to Chelmsford’s, completed a $9.3 million, 22,000-square-foot station in 2008. Read the entire article here.