Information in this article has been changed to correct an error. Beaver Constructors is overseeing the construction of the new fire station. A prior version of this article gave the wrong name for the contractor.
NORTH CANTON − Construction of the city’s much-discussed and long-awaited fire station is under way.
Mayor Matthew Stroia heralded the moment as part of North Canton’s transformation. The $14 million station, funded mostly by a voter-approved income tax increase, is scheduled for completion in July 2027.
A ground-breaking ceremony was held June 2 at the 1.11-acre site at the northwest corner of North Main Street and Viking Street NW.
“As I look at this lot, not a great looking lot. But it’s going to have life breathed into it, and it’s going to be an awesome fire safety services building for years to come,” Stroia said.
“And I just want to thank everybody that fought for this for so long. If you think about it, we last built a fire department 50-plus years ago. And we needed it for at least 25 years.”
North Canton’s new fire station
Former Mayor Stephan Wilder, who helped oversee much of the preliminary design, told the crowd of dozens of city staff and Beaver Constructors workers the project is dedicated to all city firefighters who worked throughout the decades.
He thanked residents who supported the project and he and Stroia thanked the Hoover Foundation for its $750,000 grant.
“It’s going to be a state-of-the-art building. It’s time we do take care of the employees that do their work to protect us, our firefighters, paramedics,” said Wilder.
One of the project’s architects, Tim Bement of App Architecture in Englewood in the Dayton area, said it will not be an ordinary structure.
“This building is specifically designed for the North Canton Fire Department. Nothing else in the world is going to be like this building. Because it’s custom from all the input from the chief, and the assistant chief and all the firefighters that have helped to give their input,” Bement said.
He said his team of dozens of architects and outside consultants completed the final design in spring 2026.
Work ahead
Justin Leonhard, senior project manager for main contractor Beaver Constructors, said work will begin June 3 with clearing of vegetation.
Grading to make the ground level will take place over several weeks this summer. Workers will begin constructing the foundation and the structure in August.
The city acquired the site, the former Randy’s Automotive and an apartment building, for $1.275 million in September 2023.
Council later approved a contract to hire App Architecture, with experience designing fire stations, to design the more than 23,000-square-foot fire station. The station is to include more space, vehicle bays that fit modern fire fighting vehicles and a decontamination system to keep out toxic substances from fire sites.
In May 2025 after rejecting prior tax increase proposals, city voters approved an increase in the city’s income tax rate from 1.5% to 2% to help fund the fire station. Council then repealed two levies that funded the fire department and did not renew an expiring road levy.
Council on June 1 approved an agreement with Beaver Constructors for the construction of the fire station at a cost not to exceed $11.47 million.
The city’s director of administration, Catherine Farina-Molnar, said the city will hold an open house open to the public after workers complete the fire station, “the first municipal building we’ve built in 50 years.”
Reach Robert at robert.wang@cantonrep.com.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: North Canton celebrates start of construction for new fire station
Reporting by Robert Wang, Canton Repository / The Repository
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
