Normal approves land trade with ISU

Posted on August 3, 2015
608 South Main
608 S. Main St. will soon be Normal’s fire station headquarters. (Adam Studzinski/WJBC)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – The Normal Town Council has approved a land trade with Illinois State University which will allow 608 S. Main St. to become the new fire department headquarters.

In exchange for the property, the town is giving up four smaller pieces of land. One of those sites is where the current number two fire station sits on the west side. Fire Chief Mick Humer said the department will still have plenty of access to that area of town.

“We have good access going to the west down Hovey Avenue, College Avenue,” said Humer. “Those are main thoroughfares or roads.”

The town will continue to operate out of the station until the new headquarters is ready.

City Manager Mark Peterson added the new location will mean “dramatically” reduced response times to ISU’s campus.

“Which, incidentally, generates the highest call volume of any part of our community,” said Peterson. “It also generates better response times overall on the west side of Normal.”

Construction on the new station likely will not begin until next year.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].

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