In the 1970s, the city of Peekskill, N.Y., built a shopping center on a city block, with a parking garage in the middle of it, in the hope of bringing residents downtown. Soon, that shopping/parking block will be make way for a multipurpose building that will house a 33,800-square-foot fire headquarters and training facility, as well as a business incubator with residences above shops.

The Peekskill Fire Department serves the city’s 22,000 residents with a combination of 170 volunteers and 24 career personnel. The new facility will consolidate six existing independent fire stations, some dating back to the early 19^th century. Designed by Bob Mitchell of Mitchell Associates Architects, June’s featured station in the Station Style calendar will embrace that history with some 19^th century design aspects.

“Mitchell did an unbelievable job with this station and it fits our city perfectly,” said Peekskill Fire Chief John Pappas.

Included in the plans are classrooms and a physical-fitness area, as well as training areas for rappelling and confined-space extrication. The department also included a banquet hall and a rooftop recreation area that will be available to the community.

“We are looking forward to having everything under one roof. Everything we have to do now is haphazard and spread out,” Pappas said. Fire officials are particularly excited about the new museum that will be included in the headquarters. According to Mitchell, Peekskill has two early 19^th century fire apparatus, one of which was restored by an Amish craftsman “to the level of Smithsonian standards.”

While the city of Peekskill still has to seek condemnation of the property, officials see the new facility as a special element in revitalizing downtown Peekskill and hope to break ground next spring.