Fire station for sale, kids’ club in jeopardy

Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue is getting out of the property management business, a move that might leave a kids’ club and food bank in the lurch.

Since the current Coupeville fire station opened several years ago, the public entity has rented out its old cinder block building to two nonprofit organizations.

The fire district placed the building up for sale recently and is asking $198,000 for the building situated between a church and the new fire station.

Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue Chief Joe Biller said the fire district shouldn’t have extra property to manage.

“The fire district doesn’t want to be a landlord,” Biller said.

Two nonprofit organizations share the old fire station, Gifts from the Heart food bank and the Boys and Girls Club of Coupeville. He hopes that the two organizations will remain in the building after it is sold.

Biller said officials had hoped a cell phone tower would have been sited there as well, however, plans for the tower fell through. Had that happened, the tower would have provided the fire district with an additional revenue source.

Biller said the fire district might have ran afoul of the State Auditor for having resources that aren’t devoted to its mission unless it disposed of the old building.

Bob Clay, co-chair of the club’s advisory group, said the use is protected by a lease that goes through next year.

“We’re a little disappointed it was put up for sale,” Clay said.

Even though the club has outgrown the space, he said the club isn’t prepared to construct a new building and hasn’t even started a capital campaign. Club officials are waiting to see how the building sale plays out.

Molly Hughes of Gifts From the Heart said the food bank learned of the potential sale Sept. 17. She said the group’s board is talking about the situation, but added the food bank still has a lease for the building.

She added the current site is an ideal location for the food bank. It’s located on North Main Street, close to a bus stop, apartments and senior housing.

Biller said the building will be on the market for the next six months. If it isn’t sold by then, it would be up to the fire district board to determine the next step.

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