Atlanta's historic Fire Station 7 to reopen - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Atlanta officials, business leaders and firefighters gathered at the city's historic Fire Station 7 on Tuesday to announce plans to renovate and reopen the facility.

The west end fire station closed in 2008 after budget cuts, and it was a decision that caused substantial public outcry.
    
The fire station will reopen after $2.5 million in renovations, funded by a combination of city funds and private business donations.
    
Mayor Kasim Reed says reopening the station is a sign of the city's improved financial state.
 
"We've made a number of benchmarks.  Seventy-five firefighters added into our rolls. We've done equipment upgrades at the fire department.  But this is going to be an emergency services capability," said Reed.
 
Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran says response times were affected when the fire station closed.

"Those response times were impacted adversely because the fire stations that serve this area, they have a primary territory too. And in many cases, they're on calls in their own territory when residents of District 4 have a call or need for service," said Cochran.
 
At the time of its closing, that was the fear of residents of the west end,  that it would take much longer to get help to fires and other emergencies.
   
Some say they expect that situation to improve as soon as firefighters are working at the station once again.
 
"This is an important thing. This building has been here for a long time like myself and I want to be here much longer. We'll be able to do something with this building, put it back make it look better," said Reverend Marcellus Jackson.

City officials say the station opened in 1910, and was the longest running fire station until it closed due to budget cuts.

The fire station is expected to be reopened by the end of the year.