Photo courtesy of St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue
St. Pete Beach Commissioners unanimously approved a $10.48 million construction contract for a new Fire Station 22 during their July 28 meeting, clearing the way for work to begin as early as mid-to-late September.
The new station will replace the demolished facility at 1950 Pass-a-Grille Way and allow firefighters to move out of the temporary trailer they currently use. The City awarded the guaranteed maximum price contract to Hennessy Construction Services, with construction expected to take about 14 months.
The Commission approved the contract 4-0. District 2 Commissioner Lisa Robinson did not attend the meeting.
State Funding Covers Most of the Cost
The City has secured $6.5 million through three state appropriations. Officials also expect additional insurance proceeds from the hurricane-damaged station, although negotiations with the insurance company are ongoing. The remaining construction costs will come from the City’s general fund.
The $10,479,642 contract includes $887,808 in contingency funding, which the contractor cannot spend without City approval. City staff and the project’s design team have also identified about $184,000 in potential savings through value engineering and will continue looking for additional cost reductions during construction.
“I don’t think there’s any $500 hammers in it,” Assistant City Manager Adam Poirrier said. “But it’s certainly something that we’ll continue to monitor as we go through.”
The guaranteed maximum price does not include furnishings, utility work, relocation of Duke Energy equipment, an emergency alerting system, insurance, or material testing.
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That’s not all that happened at the July 28 St. Pete Beach’s Commission meeting. Read about fees, projects, and events, property tax, tourist tax, valet parking lot, and wastewater.
Small Site Creates Challenges
City officials said the project is more complicated because the Pass-a-Grille property measures only about one-quarter of an acre. Poirrier noted that fire stations typically occupy at least 1.5 acres, while 3 acres provides more workable space. The constrained site, combined with its location in a high-risk flood zone, requires additional planning.
To address those challenges, Hennessy Construction Services plans to use storage containers and nearby staging areas for materials. The contractor also intends to order long-lead items early to avoid delays and rising costs. Poirrier said the station’s fire pole alone could take about nine months to arrive.
District 4 Commissioner Jon Maldonado also questioned the proximity of a nearby communications tower to the station’s sleeping quarters. Poirrier said the tower will not prevent construction, but the City will continue discussions about whether the equipment can be relocated.
Station Designed for Resilience
The new Fire Station 22 will be built as a hardened, more resilient public safety facility and must meet the City’s requirement for LEED Silver or Gold certification.
The station replaces a 1970s-era building that had served the Pass-a-Grille site for decades. The City began planning its replacement about six years ago after determining the facility had reached the end of its useful life. Hurricanes in 2024 caused extensive damage, and the building was later demolished.
The St. Pete Beach Commission’s next meeting is Wednesday, Aug. 19 at 6 p.m.
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