A new Burien fire station will be located at the current site of the Bonney-Watson Parker Chapel property at 900 S.W. 146th St.
Cameron Smock, president of Bonney-Watson, announced the sale Dec. 4.

The Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department will build a new station to replace the existing headquarters facility, located at 15100 8th Ave. S.W.

Fire Chief Mike Marrs said the new station, funded by a capital facilities bond passed by voters last year, is desperately needed.
"Station 28 has safety and seismic issues, lacks co-ed facilities and is outdated and deficient in a number of other ways," Marrs said.

"This new site, located just five blocks away, will provide our hard-working firefighters with a safer, more efficient facility while allowing us to maintain our excellent response times.
"In addition, the site will eventually allow us to add an onsite paramedic unit and bring our ladder truck closer to Burien's commercial district."

Construction of the new fire station will begin early in 2010 and is expected to be completed within two years. The department's existing downtown Burien station will remain in operation until the new facility is complete.

Marrs added that the fire department is very grateful that Bonney-Watson agreed to the sale.

"We approached them with the idea, and we appreciate their willingness to make this a great public win for the communities of Burien and Normandy Park."

The new station will be just down the street from the Burien Community Center, Burien Art Gallery and the former Burien Library building. It is also just east of Ambaum Boulevard Southwest, a major Burien arterial, with a concentration of multi-family housing.

A second new station, also funded by the bond, will be built to serve Normandy Park and south Burien.

The fire department, also known as King County Fire District #2, has nearly 40 paid and 20 volunteer personnel who staff two fire engines, one aerial ladder truck and one aid car.

Dan Matthews, a commercial real estate broker at GVA Kidder Matthews handled the transaction.

"This transaction is a great example of how public and private interests can be met voluntarily when both parties agree to open cooperation while keeping the greater public interest in mind," Matthews commented.

A sale price was not disclosed.

Smock said Bonney-Watson will continue its funeral, cremation and burial services at its Washington Memorial Park location in SeaTac along International Boulevard.

Bonney Watson also has facilities in Seattle, Ballard and Federal Way.

Dale and Louise Parker founded Parker Chapel in 1962. It became affiliated with Bonney-Watson in 1989 and serves about 200 families each year, according to Smock.

"Bonney-Watson has been in the business of celebrating lives since 1868," Smock noted. "However, this sale allows us to continue to serve this community in a different way, helping firefighters and medics save lives."