Latest Updates

May 1, 2026: The City acquired the new East Fire Station site at 1875 Lilac Dr on May 1, 2026.

Over the coming weeks, fencing will be placed around the site to help keep it secure until demolition and construction activities of the new East Fire Station are completed.  The Golden Valley Fire Department will occasionally be on-site using the building for training purposes until demolition. As next steps in building the new station, the City released three separate requests for proposals (RFPs) or requests for qualifications (RFQs). Each are outlined below:

• Architectural services to design the new East Fire Station: 10 proposals were received, three firms were interviewed, and the City is currently working on selecting a finalist. 

• Design and construction services to realign Lilac Dr: seven proposals were received and the City is currently working on selecting a finalist. 

• Construction manager at risk (CMAR) to oversee project design and construction planning: seven proposals were received, two firms were short-listed as finalists, and the City is currently working on selecting a finalist. 

All three RFPs require contracts that will need to be reviewed by the City Council. City Council consideration is tentatively scheduled for June 2026.

September 16, 2025: At its Sept 16, 2025, meeting, the Golden Valley City Council approved two resolutions regarding the location of a new East Fire Station facility.

These actions move the City one step closer to achieving its Building Forward plan to reinvest in essential services—in this case maintaining a high level of fire and life safety, protection, and response throughout the community. 

The first resolution approves the property at 1875 Lilac Drive N as the location of the new East Fire Station, and the second resolution authorizes the City to use eminent domain to acquire the property, if necessary. 

The City has been in communication with the property owner for over a year. Recognizing the importance of moving forward with this project and the lack of other viable properties, approval of the second resolution allows the City to start the process of acquisition by eminent domain. This process involves multiple steps and is designed to protect the rights of the property owner and ensure they are protected and fairly compensated. However, it is still possible eminent domain will not be required. 

• More about the eminent domain process is available in this pamphlet from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT).