The next chapter in the history of the Brockport Volunteer Ambulance Corps is underway. Members are currently in the process of moving from the BVA’s current location at the main fire station on Market Street to a new location at 3 Burroughs Terrace in the village.
Cody Dean, past chief Brockport Volunteer Ambulance Corps; Colin Arthur, BVA Chief of Operations; Marv Duryea and David Rice, BVA president (l-r), pose outside the building, which is in the process of becoming the new home of Brockport Volunteer Ambulance. Cody Dean says a fresh coat of paint will be the first order of business. K. Gabalski photo
“It’s a better facility for training, apparatus and office space,” BVA president David Rice says. “For the last year or so we have been working to find a new building to base our operations … we have been working with local businessman Marv Duryea to see if he might have a building that would fit our needs.”
Brockport Ambulance purchased the building from Duryea on April 13, and Rice says renovations will begin soon to make the building – which once housed several businesses – work better for the needs of the ambulance.
“This is a very significant step for us,” Rice says. He notes that the process of finding and purchasing the building had its ups and downs – legal issues and working through the village planning board process, for example. Financing was provided by Five Star Bank in Brockport.
“They needed a place to go for quite some time,” Marv Duryea observes. He is a charter member of the BVA and says he is pleased the ambulance is making use of an older building. “They looked into other options … this had potential for the long haul,” he explains.
David Rice notes that the Market Street fire station met the needs of the Ambulance to date, but, “We found we were in need of additional space as we have grown. At the same time the Fire Department has been growing as well and Market Street is basically filled to capacity.”
He says the Fire Department has always been very supportive of the BVA. “The Fire Department has been flexible in working with us, we are thankful for their flexibility.”
Past BVA Chief Cody Dean is serving as project manager for the move and renovation of the newly acquired building. “It’s not large like Spencerport or Hilton, but it will meet our needs well, it’s a very good footprint for us.” He says the building has about 5,000 square feet of usable space.
The new location will allow for a walk-in, handicapped accessible training center (900 square feet) for EMT classes, first aid and community CPR classes, Dean says. There are existing bays, which will be used for the BVA’s three ambulances and fly car; office space for a conference area, board office and chief’s office; and room to carve out living space for crews including a comfortable area where crews can relax between calls.
BVA Chief of Operations Colin Arthur says the new location is centrally located for the village as well as for the towns of Sweden and Clarkson.
“We are here to stay and we are here to serve our community,” Arthur says of the move.
Rice, Dean and Arthur say crews are happy to have a stoplight at the intersection where they will enter Main Street – something the Market Street location does not have. The move will help the BVA to continue its tradition of service from a community-based ambulance corps, they say, and add that BVA members are very excited about the move.
“We have an engaged, driven and dedicated Corps,” Dean observes.
The BVA is planning an open-house/dedication ceremony once the move and renovation work is complete, Rice says.
