LYNN — At its next meeting, slated for early February, the City Council will vote on whether to approve the allocation of $640,000 for the design and planning of an estimated $6 million renovation project at the Fayette Street Fire Station.

Following completion of a $47,000 feasibility study in 2019, the city’s Inspectional Services Department determined that the 60-year-old building needs significant repairs, such as replacement of garage doors, creation of gendered bathrooms and sleeping quarters, handicap accessibility upgrades, and functional improvements for the firefighters who use the building daily.

The Ways and Means Subcommittee approved funding for the project’s initial design and planning at its last meeting Tuesday night. According to ISD, a proposed layout for the renovations was accepted, and a design consultant has been retained to bring these improvements to fruition.

The renovation work, preliminarily scheduled to begin in the late fall, is expected to take approximately nine to 10 months.

“We’re just making sure that it’s up to current codes and designed safely for our current employees … the building as a whole will be designed to keep the firefighters safe while working,” Fire Chief Dan Sullivan said. “I couldn’t be happier with the support that the city is giving us.”

During work at the station, a temporary fire station complete with bunk rooms and office space will be provided only a few blocks away from the current station at the former Thurgood Marshall Middle School site located on Porter Street.

“The Fayette Street Station is a hub of activity, and we are thrilled to be starting this much-needed project. We appreciate the support of the team from Fire, Inspectional Services, Finance, City Council, as well as neighbors as we navigate the construction process, and we look forward to the reopening of a renovated and modernized Fayette Street station that will continue to deliver vital services to our community,” Mayor Jared Nicholson said.