NORWICH – The third floor of the City of Norwich fire station is slated for a face lift, thanks to grant funding recently awarded through a state-run program.
According to city officials, the third floor of the fire station may finally be completed as early as spring. The presently vacant space has been largely unfinished since the city paid to have the building refurbished in the early 2000’s and the fire department moved back into the building from its temporary location on Borden Avenue in 2004.
Funding for the project comes by way of the State and Municipalities Capital Program to help cities, towns and villages across the state perform local upgrades and maintenance. State Senator Tom Libous (R-52nd Senatorial District) announced this month that he has secured $100,000 to be received by the City of Norwich through the program which will allow the city to complete renovations to the third floor.
Norwich Mayor Joseph Maiurano said the vast space is likely to be used as a multi-purpose room that can accommodate training events of area profit and nonprofit organizations, fire training for Norwich and other surrounding departments, political gatherings, and refuge space for residents during weather related emergencies.
“Once it’s completed, we hope to have an area that would be useful for many things,” Maiurano said, adding that the space needs to be code compliant before it’s open to the public. “The first thing we need to do is have it finished. Once it’s finished, then we’ll have a lot of opportunities. We want to do as much as possible to utilize that money productively.”
While not open for public use, the third floor has been taken advantage of by paid and volunteer firefighters for training exercises, said Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo. In addition to continuing those exercises, he said hopes are to include multimedia capabilities, including a large screen and projector, that will allow further training.
“There are possibly a lot of uses that we haven’t even considered yet,” Chawgo added.
While the city hasn’t invested in completely renovating the third floor, it does have a good jump start, said Maiurano. Several things were completed when the fire house was refurbished more than a decade ago, including a concrete floor, installation of a heating and cooling ventilation system, bathrooms, cabling for network infrastructure, new windows, insulation, and Sheetrock walls.
“It’s something that we have done piece by piece,” Chawgo said, “but it’s never been a priority.”
Maiurano said grant funds will allow for a drop ceiling, electric hookup, lighting, and new flooring. Any leftover money may be used to explore other options to enhance the fire house.
“The city has already made numerous upgrades to the fire house. With this grant, the city can complete renovations to the third floor that’ll give volunteer firefighters an area for training and the public a space for meetings or other appropriate events,” Libous wrote in a letter sent to Norwich residents last week. “I’m glad to be able to help the City of Norwich by supporting this important upgrade.”
City officials hope to coordinate a presentation with Senator Libous to be given the money in the upcoming weeks.
“We’re very thankful for Senator Libous for getting us this money,” said Maiurano. “As soon as we get the funding, we’ll get going on work as soon as possible ... This is an indoor job, so it’s not weather dependent. I would like to get it done through the winter. That’s really the goal.”