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The city of Springfield's former Fire Station No. 1, 235 N. Kimbrough Ave., is the proposed site for an undisclosed microbrewery and taphouse.
SBJ photo by Wes Hamilton
The city of Springfield's former Fire Station No. 1, 235 N. Kimbrough Ave., is the proposed site for an undisclosed microbrewery and taphouse.

Interest sparks for two former Springfield firehouses

Posted online

Two long-vacant fire stations in Springfield could see major renovations – including space for another microbrewery and taproom for the city’s buzzing craft beer scene.

Springfield City Council on Monday night reviewed purchase plans for former Fire Station No. 1 at 235 N. Kimbrough Ave. and former Fire Station No. 6 at 1201 S. Campbell Ave. The city put the properties up for sale in January.

At Fire Station No. 1, local contractor and developer Stinson & Co. LLC submitted plans for an unnamed microbrewer to open shop at the two-story, roughly 9,500-square-foot firehouse. It remained active with the Springfield Fire Department until 2001, according to city documents.

Stinson & Co. owner Jack Stinson, who could not be reached for comment by deadline, offered the city $370,000 for the property. His plans are up for a final review on April 23. Stinson & Co.’s recent work includes infill for 4 by 4 Brewing Co. LLC in Galloway Village.

Springfield is home to at least a half-dozen microbreweries, according to city permit records. It remains unclear whether a new or existing brewing company would take the proposed Fire Station No. 1 location.

Officials with Prehistoric Brewing Co. LLC, which announced plans in mid-2017 to raise capital to open a new location, confirmed it’s not the proposed Kimbrough Avenue taproom tenant.

At Fire Station No. 6, Interpres Building Solutions LLC offered the city $160,000. The mechanical, electrical and plumbing firm plans to renovate the space for its own offices. The city ceased operations at the fire station in 2002.

“We’d admired the architecture of the building for many years, even imagined it as a potential office space since the fire department ceased operations in that location,” Interpres Building Solutions owner and principal Brad Palmer told council yesterday.

Palmer said the company plans to invest $150,000-$200,000 to remodel the interior of the fire station, with plans to restore and preserve its exterior, keeping the tower.

“One aspect of our proposal that we wanted to highlight is the potential for partnership with Parkview High School to promote STEM education programs,” Palmer said of the nearby school.

He said the firm already mentors a Springfield Public Schools student, twice weekly as part of engineering curriculum, with a number of other students shadowing staff.

The proposed sale is contingent on rezoning the fire station for office use. Council is expected to vote on the proposed sale April 23.

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