Hartselle council hires architect for new fire station, library and event center
At its latest meeting March 23, the Hartselle City Council approved contracts with Leonard Designs for the development of blueprints that will see a new fire station, library and event center built in Hartselle.
Fire Station No. 1 will be relocated to the new building on Shull Road NE from its current location at 200 Main St. E. It will be 10,000 square feet and will include equipment bays and sleeping quarters for personnel. According to the contract summary, the aesthetic of the new buildings will align with the current municipal building.
The new library and event center will be on donated land with historical significance on Sparkman Street. The library will span 7,500 square feet, while the adjacent event center will be 13,500 square feet. The structures will be linked by a shared outdoor area covered by a canopy.
The 3.5-acre plot of land, valued at $110,000 including the parking lot, holds significance as the former site of the Hartselle Medical Center, which served the community for nearly 60 years before its closure in 2012 and subsequent demolition in 2021. It was donated to the city by Huntsville Hospital Health Systems after the former healthcare center was demolished.
“We are excited to work with Leonard Design on the new building projects for the City of Hartselle. Leonard and staff were great to work with on the remodel of the municipal building and I am confident the new facilities will be the same,” Mayor Randy Garrison said.
The city will be using proceeds from bonds issued in 2022 to fund the projects, Garrison said.
Once the new station is complete and occupied, Station No. 2 will be relocated to the current building and be remodeled, he added.
“The library is not in good condition and conducive to remodel, and there is a lack of parking there too,” Garrison said. “The building was constructed for a bank and while the space has been useful for many years, a new modern facility designed for today’s media use will be helpful to increase programs and use for our library patrons.”
