Christina Merino
Press-Telegram, Long Beach, Calif.
(TNS)
After years of community concern and city work, construction for Long Beach’s new Fire Station 9 is finally underway.
Long Beach officials and city staffers held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the site that will soon become the new Fire Station 9. Construction for the project began in June and is anticipated to be completed by early 2026, officials said.
The new fire station, 4101 Long Beach Blvd., will support resources and improve response times for emergencies in the city’s Uptown community – including Los Cerritos, Cal Heights, Bixby Knolls and surrounding communities, officials said.
“It’s not every day that we have the opportunity to break ground on a fire station,” Mayor Rex Richardson said at the ceremony. “It took us a long time to get here.”
The original Fire Station 9 – located a couple blocks south of the new location – shuttered in 2019 after ongoing issues with mold and water damage plagued the facility.
Firefighters stationed there were relocated to a new facility that same year, and shortly after, city officials determined it would cost more to properly repair the original station than to relocate it.
After the decision was made to get rid of the old Fire Station 9 site, the City Council declared the property surplus land and staffers began the process of notifying interested parties in the region about the development opportunity.
The city, in 2021, attempted to solicit local housing entities, the Long Beach Unified School District and various Los Angeles County government agencies to develop the land into affordable housing, park space or an educational building – but came up empty.
Long Beach then opened up the competitive bidding process in another attempt to sell the land, which also didn’t garner any bids.
In 2023, the city turned Fire Station 9’s fate over to a real estate broker in the hopes of securing a buyer – which proved to be a fruitful endeavor the next year.
The Long Beach City Council, in March, finally approved a $19 million contract with developers AMG & Associates to construct the brand new Fire Station 9 along Long Beach Blvd., putting an end to the yearslong saga to find the facility a permanent new home.
The original Fire Station 9, meanwhile, still stands. The city granted the facility a local historic designation to preserve some of its significant architectural elements, and it was sold earlier this year to Gemmae Bake Shop, a legacy Long Beach business, for $750,000.
During the groundbreaking, Richardson extended his gratitude to the Station 9 firefighters who have endured the changes for the past few years, and will finally have a permanent, state-of-the-art facility in the next two years.
“The commitment to make this happen,” Councilmember Al Austin said, “the commitment to move our firefighters and ensure that response times were minimally impacted was very important.”
The Fire Station 9 project started off in District 8, which is represented by Austin, but after redistricting in 2021, it went over to District 5, which is represented by Councilmember Megan Kerr.
“Whether it’s responding to a raging fire or medical crisis or other situations, this station will undoubtedly save lives, improve response times and make a tangible difference for the well-being of residents,” Austin said. “This is a very touching and personal project for me and many others in this community; this is a symbol of unwavering commitment to safety and security.”
The new Fire Station 9 will be 12,779 square feet and two stories. The design includes rooftop solar, energy-efficient lighting and concrete paving, among other features.
A traffic signal at the Long Beach Boulevard and Randolph Place intersection will also be installed for safety and visibility, said Public Works Director Eric Lopez. There will also be a community hub – much like at Station 12 – where community members can meet at the fire station for social events or safety education.
The project is anticipated to cost approximately $31 million, with the construction costing about $19 million, which will come from Measure A funds, officials said.
Fire Station 9 will house seven firefighters, as well as a battalion chief. The old Fire Station 9 engine and rescue engine will be at the location, and will also house other units and personnel, said fire Chief Dennis Buchanan.
“Today is about the people we love getting the services they need, and the people we love being able to serve our community in a space that is appropriate and ready for their professional work,” Kerr said. “It will meet their needs as well as meeting our needs, and that’s something I think it’s really important for us to remember. As we celebrate this new chapter for Station 9, it is a great day for our community, it is a great day for the department that serves our community so well, and for the members of this community who rely on them every day.”
Staff writer Kristy Hutchings contributed to this report.
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