Letter: Regarding a New Firehouse and DPW Building, Two Can Live Cheaper than One

The following letter was sent to Town Councilors Mandi Jo Hanneke, George Ryan, Pam Rooney and Jennifer Taub and July 26, 2025

It is good to see that there is some incremental movement on the planning for a new DPW Center but no clear path for a new Fire Center. It is interesting to note that the last report on a new Fire Station was 2006 and the estimated cost of construction was $8 million to $12 million.   Today the estimate is $30 million to $35 million for each building. 

This evening I measured the current DPW facility site to raise a point I have offered before.  The measurement of this site is about 350 feet by 445 feet which equates to over 140,000 square feet.  And to double check this, the assessment card for this property lists it at four acres. See Google aerial below.

Question

1. Given the size of this property, can the Fire and DPW Centers be placed on this one site?
2. At 140,000 square there should be more than enough space for a 30,000 square foot Fire Center.  The 2006 report lists the Main Station at 16,000 square feet and also a Sub Station building at 14,000 square feet. Unless I am mistaken, this is a four acre site with an existing permitted use and on currently owned town land.   
3. A view of the Google aerial shows that there are significant portions of this property that are currently vacant or full of dormant or seasonal vehicles/ equipment that could be stored elsewhere.  
4. Amherst faces enormous tax revenue/budget demand deficits so every reasonable construction economy deserves fair and balanced analysis. The current estimates for two separate Fire and DPW centers is $30M each?  Total $50M to $60M?  
5. The savings potential for building these centers either together or under one roof deserves thorough consideration.  

I look forward to not just an acknowledgement of this message but some interactive response to this given that it has been raised before and the cost savings of building these centers together or under one roof is significant.   As you know, our neighboring Town of Hadley has a multi-departmental public safety building and there are many other towns that do as well. Williamsburg just built an 8,000 square foot fire house for $5M.

 Terence Masterson

Terence Masterson is an Amherst resident and a longtime economic development director, formerly serving Westchester County, N.Y,  Cayuga County, N.Y. and currently Sturbridge MA.  He also served as Deputy Mayor and Trustee, Irvington, N.Y. (1983-93, 2009-2010)