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DELIVERY PROMISED THE BID WAS AWARDED TO MACK.
THE FIRE COMMISSION, ON
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CHIEF ENGINEER, RETURNS THE BIDS TO
THE PURCHASING AGENT WITH THEIR RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHICH BID
SHOULD BE ACCEPTED. IF THE PURCHASING AGENT CONCURS THE
BID IS AWARDED BY CONTRACT. IF THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF
OPINION, THE CITY CHARTER PROVIDES THAT THE PURCHASING AGENT AND
THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF BUDGET AND EFFICIENCY SHALL DECIDE
AS TO THE BID TO BE ACCEPTED. SUCH A CONDITION HAS NEVER
ARISEN IN RECENT YEARS. |
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Within the next few months, construction
will be started on a new station for Engine No. 71 on the
southwest corner of Beverly Glen and Sunset Boulevards.
Since 1943, Engine No. 71 has been housed with Engine No.
37. Since that time, efforts have been made to secure
property on which to build a fire station but objections have
been raised by residents in the locality against any location
suggested. Various sites have been checked, ranging all
the way from Stone Canyon to Beverly Glen Boulevard. Each
one of these sites has been objectionable either from the
standpoint of the local residents or from the Fire Department.
In 1945, the Fire Department
began concentrating its efforts on the site of Beverly Glen and
Sunset but because of various objections, purchase was not
completed until October 1946. The State Aid Public Works
Review Board approved this site February 5, 1947 and granted
half the cost of the lot to the city of Los Angeles. This
is a large lot, somewhat irregular in shape, approximately 160'
x 200' in size, but this size has been greatly reduced by
setbacks which were placed on the property by the original subdivider.
These setbacks consist of a 50 ft. setback on Sunset, a 40 ft.
setback on Beverly Glen, a 25 ft. setback on the south side and
a 5 ft. setback on the south side and a 5 ft. setback on the
west side., leaving us a small space to build a station.
This station will be radically
different in design from anything the Fire Department has at
present. The apparatus floor will be an "L"
shape, sufficiently large to house three full size pieces of
apparatus. The new type standard door sliding to the sides
will be used on the front or Beverly Glen side and doors similar
to our present doors will be used on the opening towards Sunset.
The building itself will
be reasonably low, flat roof surfaced with white gravel.
The external surface facing Sunset and Beverly Glen will be
mostly ornamental rock. Other exterior surface will be
brick and transite. The ceiling in the dormitory and
apparatus floor will be considerably higher than the other
ceilings and light and ventilation will be furnished by
clerestrory windows.
Fluorescent lighting will
be used in the kitchen, recreation room, and the captain's
office. The captain's office will be provided with a
roll-away bed.
The hose tower which was
perhaps the most objectionable feature to the residents close to
the location of this station will receive a new and novel
treatment. It will be built approximately 20 ft. long and
5 ft. wide, with vents in the bottom, and the wide side being
mostly vents above the roof of the building. The narrow
side will be covered with corrugated transite which should make
this tower look like anything else but a hose tower from the
street.
The entire backyard will
be graded and paved. This will bring our lot nearly 5 ft.
above the first lot west. To compensate for this, instead
of fencing the rear of the lot, hedging will probably be used.
Plans for the station are
entering the final stage and from present appearances will be
finished by the last of August. These plans are being
drawn by the firm of Austin, Field, Fry & Criz, Architects,
at 608 Chamber of Commerce Building. This firm has made an
honest effort to make this station acceptable in the
neighborhood. Contract for the construction of the station
will be made with a private contractor by competitive bids after
plans and specifications are finished.
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