New fire station breaks ground
The Los Angeles Fire Department and USC officials gathered at McAllister Field Thursday afternoon to celebrate the groundbreaking of USC Fire Station No. 15.
Holes · USC and Los Angeles administrative leaders gather at McAllister Field to participate in the groundbreaking ceremony. – Ralf Cheung | Daily Trojan
Those present at the event included President C. L. Max Nikias, City Attorney Mike Feuer, Councilmember of the 9th District Curren Price and Interim Fire Chief of the Los Angeles Fire Department James G. Featherstone. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was scheduled to attend but could not make it due to an emergency conflict regarding the state drought.
The new Fire Station No. 15, which is set to replace the current station situated on Jefferson Boulevard, will be located on the corner of Hoover Street and 30th Street.
Fire Station 15 opened its doors in 1900 and moved to its current location on Jefferson in 1950, Featherstone said. On average, the station responds to approximately 14 emergency calls per day, totaling around 5,120 emergencies in the past year. In order to keep up with the emergencies in the area, the new facilities will be situated on an acre of land.
The new fire station is funded by USC, which annually invests $32 million in the surrounding community.
“This mutual commitment to our neighborhood is not a job — it is our calling,” Nikias said.
The university’s donation allowed the new station to move forward with its improvements after delays due to lack of funding.
Price noted the project works toward helping both USC and the surrounding neighborhood.
“We’re celebrating the inauguration, the creation and development of a community resource; a resource that’s going to serve not only the university but also the community at large,” Price said.
City officials, including Feuer, were grateful for USC’s contributions toward emergency response services.
“A little over a year ago, I was on my way to the swearing in of our newest district attorney, and a very big vehicle ran a red light and ran into my very small vehicle,” Feuer said. “I’m extremely fortunate to be here at all … I was on the receiving end of the service from these paramedics. They’re very serious about their job.”
So what’s going to happen to McAllister field? Will soccer and other events still be held there or will the FD take over the whole spot? What portion of the field is the new building going to take over?
McAlister Field will remain as currently configured. The field and stands were repositioned I believe last year in preparation for the station site which occupies just the corner / wedge between the apartment building to the south and 30th to the north.
Boy can they spin it!
The truth is that the University Village project could not move forward until the fire station was relocated.
“The new fire station is funded by USC, which annually invests $32 million in the surrounding community. “This mutual commitment to our neighborhood is not a job — it is our calling,” Nikias said. The university’s donation allowed the new station to move forward with its improvements after delays due to lack of funding”. –
Will this affect my weekly “transport” from the row to the hospital?
“This mutual commitment to our neighborhood is not a job — it is our calling,”
No, like all non-profit universities, USC doesn’t pay a dime in property taxes to the city. Some would argue that paying property taxes in exchange for city services is in fact an obligation.
How long will construction take? When will the new station open? Is this station move in preparation for the new Village construction?