Much-needed repair work to the Sea Point Fire Station resumed this month following numerous delays in construction due to the nature of the building – just in time for its centenary next year.
The heritage building based on the intersection of Kloof and Regent roads will commemorate 100 years next year although it only became a functional fire station in 1932.
Nicola Jowell, Ward 54 councillor, said despite the challenges, the renovations are set to be completed next month.
“The heritage nature of the building will always make for a more complicated project. All work was first approved by Heritage Western Cape and permits issued. But the work was halted by SANCCOB as there were sea gulls nesting in the heritage gutters on the roof.”
She says this led to a five-month delay in the project.
“Seagulls are a protected species, and their nests cannot be disturbed until the new birds are hatched and out of the nests. The heritage gutters created the perfect nesting environment for them. During some of this time there was some work done internally.”
Jowell explains that the prevalence of asbestos also created further challenges.
“With heritage buildings asbestos is always a concern and there was asbestos discovered in both the floor and ceiling of the living quarters in the property. This mean that the property had to be closed to enable qualified contractors to come in and safely remove the asbestos.
“This could not be done during the peak of the fire season, so it caused further delays to the project. But all asbestos is now removed, and the end of the project is in sight.”
The councillor says the site will remain temporarily closed with fire tenders being dispatched from Roeland Street currently.
“This is a top to bottom, inside and out renovation. With a number of benefits from protecting the heritage building, to making it a beautiful focal point in one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world, but also crucially providing a safer, more comfortable and more dignified place for the fire station staff members to work and live.”
Renovations include a new roof, gutters, removal of spalding, plaster work and external repainting.
“Total renovations of the external flats for visiting guests, protection of the wooden window frames, removal of asbestos, new staff kitchen, new bathrooms, renewed sleeping quarters and also the CID office which is part of the overall building will also be done.”
According to Jowell, the fountain outside the building will also get a facelift.
Jowell says the project has been advocating for the work to start since 2019.
“This is an incredibly exciting project, one that I have been pushing for since taking office in February 2019, so to see it finally near completion is fantastic. With all the new buildings around it the Fire Station was slipping into oblivion with a rather drab beige colour and its poor physical state.
“With its stunning red it now stands proud against, and I think will ensure that the building remains the heart and focal point of Sea Point for another 100 years,” she concludes.
