The Lexington Fire Department has teamed up with Cowgill Partners to conduct two weeks of hands-on training in one of their buildings scheduled for demolition in early April. The 20,000 sq. ft. commercial structure, located at 340 Legion Dr., will serve as a temporary training center for Lexington firefighters and allow them to train on a wide variety of topics they face daily in their positions.
"We are thrilled the Fire Department is able to train in the building,” said Senior Project Manager Carson Baughman. “Their efforts to prepare for an emergency contribute to the safety of our community, which is something we can all get behind.”
“This is a unique opportunity for our members to gain valuable experience conducting training exercises that are otherwise difficult to simulate,” said Training Battalion Chief Jordan Saas. “More than 200 firefighters will take turns stretching hose, cutting ventilation holes, forcing doors, practicing large area search and rescue, and more. We are grateful to Cowgill for bringing this opportunity to us.”
Training is scheduled to take place from March 28 – April 7. Residents in the surrounding area were notified in advance of the training exercise, and appropriate safety measures were taken to ensure that there is no risk to the public.
After demolition, the land will be used to construct an approximately $13 million, 3-story, 105-unit apartment building.
The apartments are designed to attract young working professionals, be pet-friendly, and include all utilities, cable, internet and lifestyle services in the rental pricing. “Flexibility is key in today’s environment; this community aims to make the rental experience as smooth as possible. Residents won’t have to worry about dealing with utility accounts after their move, our management team will take care of it all,” said Baughman. “There has been substantial development activity along the South Broadway corridor over the past several years, and this community will support continued growth by contributing much-needed housing.”
Amenities will include a club room, fitness center, firepit, outdoor amenity space, long-term bike parking, bark park, and electronic access. Morris Workshop Architects designed the project, Carman Engineering is the civil engineer and Cowgill will oversee construction.
Cowgill has long been one of Lexington’s leading apartment development and management companies and owns two neighboring communities, The Studios at Belmont and Belmont Run.
For more information about their company, visit cowgill.com. Information about the project can be found at cowgill.com/legiondriveapartments.
