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Wilmington – The City of Wilmington is seeking ideas for the best future use of the former Wilmington Fire Station No. 5 located at 1814 Gilpin Avenue. The station has not been used as an active fire station since 2013, when the City opened a new Station No. 5 on Dupont Street as part of the WHA’s Lincoln Tower housing complex.
“The former fire station is on the historic register and it is surrounded by the beautiful community of Forty Acres,” said Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki. “Given the character and uniqueness of the properties in the surrounding neighborhood, the City will look for creative uses for the property that take into consideration what’s appropriate for the community. Considering the structure’s historic nature we hope to receive ideas for an adaptive reuse that preserves the building’s exterior.”
Wilmington today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the acquisition and reuse of the site. A two-story building sits on the property as well as approximately 12-15 off-street parking spaces in a rear fenced and paved lot. The deadline for proposals to be submitted to the City is 3 p.m. on Monday, February 12, 2018. Those interested in submitting proposals may tour the property on Thursday, January 25, 2018, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Use the following link to download a copy of the RFP: https://www.wilmingtonde.gov/home/showdocument?id=6730)
Mayor Purzycki said once a viable proposal has been identified and reviewed publicly by the community and City Council, he will ask Council to declare Station No. 5 to be surplus property and then approve it for disposition to the individual or entity selected to develop it.
Built in 1893, Old Fire Station No. 5 was an active fire station until early 2013, at which point it began to house the City of Wilmington’s Fire Protection Unit. In January of this year, the Fire Protection Unit vacated the building and it is currently used for storage.
Source: Wilmington Mayor’s Office