photo: FL Architect Fan on Flickr
For an admitted fire buff, the chance to live in a former fire station is like reliving an adolescent dream. Former Tampa Fire Station #3 recently went on the market after a storied history – as the first fire station west of the Hillsborough River, then as a storage unit for the growing department – and most recently as a playhouse for a local businessman. He kept his collection of vintage muscle cars on the ground floor (apparatus bay if you will), and decked the second floor with a complete apartment (1/1). It’s a bit game room-y for me but with some minor redecorating, it could be gush worthy. I would park my car facing out, utilize the brass fire pole* to make a hasty exit, and clear the floor plan so that it has a true urban loft feel. And next door on Magnolia is a great home design store! WIN!
Everything about this building screams quality, heft. Those big wooden garage doors…the window frames, the flag pole. I might be tempted to fly a rainbow flag! I MIGHT EVEN turn the bottom floor into a space for revolving pop-up shops. Throw open the garage doors and you have an instant retail strip!
Fun bit: Before this building was renovated, the brick drive even had deep grooves where the fire truck tires would sink in slowly over time. They were removed, sadly.
Going for a slick $1.3m.
*I would add one back in if the original has been removed.
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[…] – hidden treasure of a home store in a pocket of Hyde Park next door to my favorite retired fire station. Range of products and prices, but friendly staff and genuine Westchester County […]