Hampden Panel Floats New Fire Station Site Option
Other Committee · Meeting of April 23, 2026
Hampden panel previews alternate fire station design and old town hall options ahead of a public forum. The Old Town House Future Committee and the Firehouse Building Committee met jointly to compare a possible new five-bay, roughly 6,400-square-foot apparatus building south of the current fire station with the fate of the shuttered former town hall. Architects are expected back with cost estimates within weeks; a standalone new firehouse could run $10 million to $12 million against the roughly $7 million already planned for renovation.
The old town hall's repair estimate, now $8.9 million, could climb to $11.5 million if left unaddressed for five years, with carrying costs of $33,000 to $67,000 a year. "So even a minimal renovation quickly crosses into the millions," one committee member said, citing state ADA requirements. No votes were taken; a public forum is set for April 28.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 788 words
Source: the Other Committee meeting of April 23, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
Keep reading with a 30-day free trial
Subscribe to Hampden News to keep reading this post and get 30 days of free access to the full post archives.
Starting a trial requires a payment method. After 30 free days your subscription begins at the price shown at checkout and renews automatically until you cancel. You can cancel anytime from your account. Subscription terms
A subscription gets you:
- Subscriber-only posts and full archive
- Post comments and join the community
- 24x7 access to local news