Next step toward selling historic former Fire Station 37

The city has taken the next step toward putting historic ex-Fire Station 37 (at 35th SW/SW Othello) up for sale, as authorized by the City Council last month. It’s just sent out a “request for proposals” (RFP) from real-estate brokers interested in marketing the former station, among other vacant properties. Read on for the full announcement:

Today the city of Seattle issued a request for proposals (RFP) seeking real estate brokers to market various surplus properties on behalf of the city, including the former Fire Station 37 in West Seattle, the former Fire Station 38 in Ravenna Bryant, and other vacant property. Over the next few years, the city anticipates some of its other properties will also be authorized for sale in a competitive process. Multiple contracts will be awarded to various firms, and minority and women firms are encouraged to respond to the RFP.

The link to the full RFP (RFP#FAS2040 Broker Services) is available online at ebidexchange.com/seattle. To learn more about the RFP process, the city’s property disposition process, or about the potential properties for sale, potential bidders are encouraged to attend an optional presubmittal meeting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2011, in Room 4550 of the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Ave. Proposals are due to the city no later than 1 p.m. on Oct. 31, 2011.

With authorization from the Seattle City Council, properties surplus to the city’s needs are generally sold in an open competitive process for fair market value. Surplus city properties often have special qualities which affect their marketability and their value. Historic fire stations are example of properties with special qualities. Choosing a real estate broker who can market and promote these special qualities to a wide range of prospective buyers will assure the city receives the best value in its sale of surplus property.

For more information on the RFP, please contact, Daniel Bretzke at 206-733-9882 or daniel.bretzke@seattle.gov

funkietoo October 5, 2011 (3:44 pm)

Hmmmm….the real estate market is depressed right now, so we taxpayers are not going to get top dollar if we sell right now.

Instead, what about converting the Fire House into a Shower House for our Nickelsville Neighbors? Right now they have to go downtown to shower/clean up…if they don’t have the money to ‘pay’ for a community center shower. Can you imagine not being able to shower for a week or two, or more? Besides the obvious hygiene issue, how does one present well for a job interview, housing interview, etc., if they aren’t clean?

If there is enough room, perhaps we could even get a couple of working, used washers and dryers. Again, hard to present well, if your clothes aren’t clean.

If there is enough room, maybe even a computer lab with internet access?

Would rather see my tax money spent in this manner, including paying for the heat, electricty, laundry detergent, etc.

Come on City Council…instead of just saying ‘we need to do better’, and offerring no concrete ideas on ‘how’ to do better….just do it. Consider this solution and ask for our help implementing. It.just.shouldn’t.be.this hard.

funkietoo October 5, 2011 (4:01 pm)

With the depressed real estate market, why is the Seattle City Council trying to sell Taxpayer owned properties at bottom dollar?

Here is an idea Seattle City Council….let’s turn the Fire Station into a Sanitation Station for our Nickelsville Neighbors. We can start with showers; then add a couple of used washers and dryers. Besides the obvious hygiene issues, it is very hard to present yourself well when you can’t afford a shower on a regular basis or wash you clothes. Think how hard it is for children to go to school…without access to showers and clean clothes.

Nickelsville Residents have rules and structure…think it is safe to say that they would implement that same at a Shower Station.

Perhaps we could look at some of the other surplus properties too! Let’s put our brainstorming caps on and come up with a ways to utilize our surplus properties…at least until the market goes up.

I Love The Viaduct October 5, 2011 (4:37 pm)

Turn it into a homeless shelter or housing for the the drug addicted mentally ill.

Yardvark October 5, 2011 (5:00 pm)

I wouldn’t be surprised if this whole drawn out process of selling Fire Station 37 has now cost more than the City will ever get for it.

hopey October 5, 2011 (5:17 pm)

If you’ve followed this at all, the City already went through the process of assessing potential alternate uses for the property months ago. The outcome of that process was a determination that — for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is its Historic status — the old fire station is best suited as a private residence.