Next Era of Emergency Response Breaks Ground
Station #84 to Improve Services Coverage for City and Township
Construction is to begin May 20 on what will be Norwich Township’s fourth fire station.
Station 84, 3858 Alton Darby Creek Road, will be constructed on the east side of Alton Darby Creek Road, south of Davis Road.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the $11.2 million station was held April 30.
“We were excited to have the groundbreaking for the new fire station. The addition of this station will allow (the NTFD) to grow with the community and maintain the highest level of service possible,” Norwich Fire Chief Dave Baird said.
The construction time is expected to be 12 to 14 months, Baird said.
Elford is the construction manager for the project.
Norwich has three existing stations: Station 81 at 5181 Northwest Parkway, adjacent to the Franklin County Fairgrounds; Station 82, at 2491 Walker Road, in Brown Township; and Station 83 at 4283 Davidson Road.
Norwich officials made clear the need for a fourth station, now possible after voters on March 19 approved a 4.9-mill fire levy.
Appearing as Issue 15 on the ballot, the new permanent fire levy increased the property tax by $172 annually per $100,000 property evaluation, according to the Franklin County Auditor’s Office.
According to final unofficial results from the Franklin County Board of Elections, voters approved the fire levy with 4,412 votes (61%) in favor of the ballot issue while 2,804 votes (39%) were cast against it.
The new permanent levy will generate $9.2 million annually.
The additional revenue will allow for up to 24 additional firefighters and to construct and equip Station 84, Baird previously said.
Station 84 will be built on 3.5 acres Norwich purchased from the city of Hilliard for $1.
The parcel is within the 125 acres on which the city is building its 105,000-square foot, $106.3 million Recreation and Wellness campus set to open in mid-2025.
At about 1,650 square feet, Station 84 will be comparable in size with the township’s other stations, Baird said.