Mar. 29—Retired assistant fire chief Jeff Murphy is one step closer to purchasing decommissioned La Crosse Fire Station No. 4 with hopes to turn it into housing. Murphy's proposal will still need approval from the city council before it is finalized.
The old station at 906 Gillette St. has been standing since the 1940s and was considered for demolition in 2018. The La Crosse Heritage Preservation Commission declared it a historical landmark in May 2021.
Next door, construction crews work to complete the new Fire Station No. 4. Crews broke ground on the new station in July 2023. The project is estimated to finish by August this year. The new station will bring modern firefighting equipment and utility standards for staff to the North Side of the city.
Murphy's proposal for the old station would see it become housing for him and his wife, Jill, on the first floor with a one-bedroom rental unit on the second floor.
Standing fire poles and department artifacts will all be incorporated into the design of the housing units. The proposal says the historical features could be used for fundraising events for local charities.
Murphy estimates about $300,000 will be required to bring the building up to code. Proper heating, electrical, plumbing and ventilation work all need to be installed in the building before it can be used as housing.
Murphy offered the city $32,500 to purchase the property. The available lot size was decreased significantly to make room for the new fire station under construction next door. Murphy's proposal said the resizing and adjacency to the new station will likely affect the value of the property.
The second-floor rental would be marketed toward new firefighters who need temporary housing while they work on relocating to the city. Before his fire service, Murphy worked in real estate with a specialty in renovating old buildings for housing.
In his proposal, Murphy estimates it will take 14 months after a sale to complete renovations.
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