June 9, 2026 12:20p
(WGTD)---A Racine city council committee unanimously endorsed taking the first step in replacing Racine’s main fire station—a 60 year-old, downtown structure that’s deteriorating.
The council’s Finance and Personnel Committee Monday night unanimously approved a recommendation to hire an architect to come up with design and construction documents. That process is expected to take nine months to complete. A site for the new station has not been selected.
The new station, wherever it’s built, may include a residential component. Market rate apartments have been included either above or alongside new fire stations that have been built in Madison and Green Bay. Mayor Mason said it’s a response to the housing shortage.
The new Racine station is expected to cost $30 million.
Following completion, the city is expected to begin the planning process for a new police station, currently located in the same building as the fire station that’s in line to be replaced. City officials say wherever a new police station is located it probably won’t be built adjacent to the new fire house as a central location for a police station is less important than to the fire station's location.
The city's finance director said Monday night that the construction funds will come from borrowing, and that the city's financial advisers believe the city will be able to absorb the costs.
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