EAST GOSHEN TWP, PA — Chester County plans to seek the release of $850,000 in federal funding on or about Nov. 17 for an $8.47 million reconstruction of Goshen Fire Company’s Station 54, advancing a project intended to modernize emergency services infrastructure serving approximately 39,000 residents across four Chester County townships.
The funding request follows a county environmental review that determined the project would have no significant environmental impact, clearing a procedural hurdle toward securing federal assistance for the redevelopment at 1320 Park Avenue.
The two-phase project would replace portions of the 75-year-old fire station, renovate existing facilities and construct a two-story building to accommodate fire, emergency medical services and fire police operations.
Construction is expected to begin in January 2027, with substantial completion anticipated by May 2028.
According to the county, the project carries an estimated cost of $8,474,430, with Goshen Fire Company contributing $5,260,945 from its reserves.
The financing plan also includes $850,000 in federal Community Project Funding, $800,254 through Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program and a projected $1,563,231 mortgage.
The federal funding is being pursued through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026.
The county’s planned request represents the next step in the federal funding process, which requires completion of an environmental review and authorization for the release of funds.
The reconstruction would expand Station 54 from 17,260 square feet to approximately 23,940 square feet, an increase of 6,680 square feet, or nearly 39%.
The new two-story structure would be built roughly within the existing building’s footprint and include administrative offices, training rooms, an elevator, kitchen, gym and living quarters for volunteer and career personnel.
Renovations would include additional office and storage space, replacement of mechanical systems, new overhead and entry doors, replacement windows, roofing and exterior improvements.
Existing parking lots and driveways would also be repaved.
The redevelopment is intended to address operational limitations at a station originally constructed in 1951 and subsequently expanded in 1960, 1974, 1985 and 1993.
Goshen Fire Company operates as a combined volunteer and career fire and EMS department, maintaining career staffing around the clock.
The department responds to approximately 700 fire calls and 5,000 EMS calls annually across East Goshen, West Goshen, Westtown and Willistown townships.
The existing station lacks adequate training, meeting, office and storage space, according to the county’s project description.
It also lacks dedicated living quarters for volunteers stationed at the facility and sufficient decontamination areas for firefighting equipment.
The reconstruction would incorporate building systems intended to reduce firefighters’ exposure to contaminants associated with turnout gear and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or forever chemicals.
Those improvements address occupational health concerns associated with contaminated protective equipment and potential cancer risks among firefighters.
The project would involve demolition of existing sections containing the banquet hall, crew quarters and offices, along with renovations to retained portions of the station.
Some additional ground disturbance would occur to accommodate the elevator and new building foundations.
The property is located along a predominantly residential street, with fire company-owned vacant parcels to the south and west and a church to the east.
The site is zoned R-3 Medium Density Suburban Residential, where fire stations are permitted as a conditional use.
Chester County determined that the proposed construction would not significantly affect the human environment, eliminating the requirement for a full Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The county issued its Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds with a publication date of Oct. 30.
Residents, organizations and public agencies have until Nov. 16 to submit written comments concerning the environmental review.
Comments may be submitted to the Chester County Department of Community Development, Attention: Denise Kleinman, 601 Westtown Road, Suite 365, West Chester, PA 19380, or by email to ccdcd@chesco.org.
Submissions should identify whether they address the Finding of No Significant Impact or the Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds.
The environmental review record is available electronically by requesting it through ccdcd@chesco.org.
Following the county’s anticipated funding request, HUD will accept objections to the release of funds and the county’s environmental certification for 15 days after the anticipated submission date or actual receipt of the request, whichever is later.
Federal objections are limited to specified procedural and environmental-review grounds, including deficiencies in the county’s certification or failure to complete required review steps.
Such objections must be submitted to HUD’s Philadelphia Office of Community Planning and Development at CPDRROFPHI@hud.gov.
The federal funding process will determine when the county can use the anticipated $850,000 allocation toward the fire station reconstruction.
Additional information about the project and county funding procedures is available at https://www.chesco.org/1916/Community-Construction-and-Public-Works.
Questions concerning the construction project, grant funding or environmental review may also be directed to Goshen Fire Company at admin@goshenfireco.org.
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