Construction of a new fire station that would house firefighters responsible for responding to an attack on and disasters at the Pentagon has been delayed more than a year due to contractor ineptitude, according to county officials.
The sign outside the half-finished Aurora Hills Fire Station No. 5 at 1750 South Hayes St. in Crystal City says the planned opening was “early 2005.” However, Arlington county officials caution that the station, being built right next to an older firehouse, will not be done until the end of this year, and that’s if everything stays on schedule.
The county originally raised $4.4 million by issuing a bond in 2000 for the station, which serves the Pentagon and other Defense Department offices and is the would-be home to firefighters who responded to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Dynasty Construction was chosen as the contractor in 2003, but did not complete the work and was fired by the county. Because the bond was insured, the bonding company is forced to pay for remaining work on the station, said Greg Emanuel, director of Arlington’s engineering and capital projects planning division.
“Right now, the bonding company has agreed to take over the job and complete the work,” he said. “I expect them to perform fully under contract terms.”
The station is now in a state of disrepair, although Emanuel would not speculate if the structure would have to be torn down and rebuilt. He said the county would incur no additional costs. Arlington planning analyst Bobby van Druff said the contractor was also fired by the county for problems with construction of the Arlington Arts Center.
Dynasty Construction did not return calls for comment.
Rick Warren, the purchasing agent for Arlington, said in the short term the company would not be considered for additional jobs in the county.
Warren added that the company was legally obligated to accept Dynasty’s bid, as it was the lowest that fit the bidding criteria. William Holbrook, a Crystal City resident who is listed as a contact person on the Arlington Republican’s Web site, said he feared the old fire station does not have the capacity to deal with the area’s population. The station is surrounded by high-rise apartments and hotels as well as the Department of Defense three blocks away.
At a glance
» The county last year considered appropriating $2.5 million in emergency funds to complete the project.
» The Aurora Hills station is one of 10 in Arlington.
