BY MICHAEL CROUCHLEY
Why it matters
What’s next
Magner said that the city’s strategy of redevelop- ing “old, outdated” office buildings into apartments has necessitated the need for another station. “Around where we want to really locate Fire Station No. 7, there have been thousands of apartment units that have been brought on,” he said. “To facilitate all of that, we have to have our core services in order.” Poovey said that as more development comes online, calls can take longer to complete. “If the patient is in McDonald’s, or in a one story home, we can access them real quick,” he said. “If they’re on the 18th floor of then it takes us a long time to get to them.” He added that the location of the new station will also help to field calls on US 75, which he said is “a huge resource requirement.” “It seems like almost every morning and every afternoon we’re having some call on US 75, and sometimes they take hours and hours to clear,” Poovey said. “You’ve got one or potentially two
City's fire and emergency services calls
Magner said that Richardson’s corporate development will continue to place extra demand on the city’s fire department. Several of the city’s “target industries,” including semiconductor manufacturing, require regular inspections from the fire department. If approved, Richardson’s bond package would fund $12.5 million in fire department projects, according to city documents. The fire master plan calls for $30 million more in spending through 2030, with the city’s seventh station expected to open in 2033. If council calls the bond, Richardson residents will see funding for the fire department projects on the ballot on May 2.
Fire calls
EMS calls
12,000
10,000
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2020 2022 2024
2016
2018
SOURCE: CITY OF RICHARDSON/COMMUNITY IMPACT
units out of service for multiple hours during those periods, and that’s a big consideration for Fire Station No. 7.”
Strings | Piano | Guitar | Voice
GIVE THE GIFT OF MUSIC THIS HOLIDAY SEASON PRESCHOOL CLASSES, GROUP CLASSES, AND PRIVATE LESSONS
20% OFF enrollment when mentioning this ad. EXP. 1/31/26
1144 N. Plano Rd | musicsosimple.com | 469-778-2121
15
RICHARDSON EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook