Fire Station No. 2 Relocation

  Fire No. 2 Moving Forward  
Fire Station No. 2 Relocation: A Strong Future for Public Safety in Ames

The City of Ames is moving forward with plans to relocate Fire Station No. 2 from its current location on Welch Avenue to a new site along State Avenue.

Thank you for your support.



View Map Here(PDF, 10MB)

This project is designed to:  

  • Enhance community safety with a modern, efficient facility
  • Improve emergency response times
  • Support redevelopment in Campustown
Why Relocate?

Fire Station No. 2, located at 132 Welch Ave., is currently surrounded by heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic.

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This congestion can slow emergency response and create safety challenges. Relocating the station to State Avenue will:

  • Lessen traffic-related delays
    • Reduces traffic conflicts with cars, pedestrians, and delivery trucks
  • Improve access for emergency vehicles
    • Easier access during busy Thursday-Saturday nights
  • Expand service coverage
    • 120 more calls reached citywide within five minutes or less
    • 300 more calls reached within five minutes or less to growth areas identified under the Ames 2040 Plan
  • Increase operational efficiency with a modern, purpose-built facility
    • Current station (built in 1966) lacks ADA access and modern energy standards
    • New design includes carcinogen reduction strategies for firefighter health
    View Photos of Current Station(PDF, 4MB)

Fire Station No. 2

Partnership with Iowa State University

The new station will be built on Iowa State University property, south of Baker Subdivision and College Creek. This ongoing collaboration between the City of Ames and ISU:

  • Shares project costs
  • Strengthens fire protection for both the university and the city
  • Reinforces a long-standing public safety partnership
Redevelopment Opportunities in Campustown

Relocating the station opens the door for redevelopment of the current Welch Avenue site. Revenue from the future sale of the property will be used to reduce project debt, making the investment fiscally responsible and forward-looking.

New Facility

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New location at 601 State Ave.

What is the Cost?
  • Base Construction Costs: $7,691,344
    • Building, contingency, mezzanine
  • Net Zero Ready Upgrades: $1,245,230
    • Geothermal wells and pumps, increased electric service and square footage
  • Owner Provided Services: $1,519,554
    • Design fees, project management
  • Total: $10,456,128
How Will This be Funded?

This will be funded by property taxes.

  • Residential: $11/year for every $100,000 assessed value
  • Commercial/Industrial: $97/year for every $500,000 assessed value
  • Overall: 2.1% increase in the City portion of property tax
FAQ

What does net-zero ready mean and why are we doing it?

  • What does net-zero ready mean for our project?
    • The new station will have a geothermal heating and cooling system.
    • Electrical infrastructure will be in place to accept solar panels. 
    • The station will not be built with solar panels but ready to accept them later.
    • The geothermal heating and cooling system comes with a 50-year warranty and expected service life.
    • It will reduce the station's annual heating and cooling costs by over 50%. 
      • With rising energy costs, these savings compound significantly. 
    • The geothermal heating and cooling system has an ROI (return on investment) of 16 to 18 years
      • By making the investment now, we will have 32+ years of net savings, instead of the cost of retrofitting the station later.
  • Why are we doing it?
    • Ames City Council directed us to pursue a net-zero ready fire station
    • If we were to add solar panels to the station, in addition to the geothermal heating and cooling system we are going to install, the amount of energy needed to operate the station would be the same amount of energy generated by the station through geothermal efficiencies and solar generated electricity.
      • It reduces the station's carbon footprint, which directly contributes to less pollution. 
  • The new station has a lifespan of 50+ years, which means we need to plan and build for the future.

Why are we moving Station No. 2 before moving forward with building Station No. 4?

  • We currently do not have land for Station No. 4
    • Working with a local developer, we have identified a parcel on a future land development site on the east side of George Washington Carver, across from the Scenic Valley Development. 
      • Development of the land is expected sometime in 2026.
    • We previously pursued the purchase of a piece of land for Station No. 4 in the Scenic Valley Development, specifically at the intersection of Cartier Avenue and Barcelos Street. It was denied due to the HOA’s restrictive covenants only allowing residential property use.
  • We currently do not have Engine No. 4.
    • If approved by City Council, we will contract for Engine No. 4 yet this year.
    • Lead and build times have not improved. We are looking at a lead time of 48 to 51 months.
  • We currently do not have staffing.
    • We have been staffing up for Station No. 4.
    • An additional firefighter, if approved by City Council, would put us at 12 for Station No. 4.

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