They’ve been there since 1976, but Eastern Area Volunteer Emergency Services is looking to move from their home base on New Venture Gear Drive.
If you go…
WHAT Pig Roast to support EAVES’ new building
WHEN Noon to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 14
WHERE EAVES Ambulance, 6440 New Venture Gear Drive, East Syracuse
COST Adults pay $10, Seniors $8, children $7. Delivery is available to seniors within the district. Delivery can be set up at 437-0939
More information available at http://eavesambulance.org
The ambulance service is seeking to build a $1.2 million facility near Kirkville Road, replacing the building it currently owns. The service has outgrown its current facility, said EAVES director of operations Vincent Stevenson.
The building was given to EAVES after an explosion in the former town water department at the same location. EAVES has since made additions and small renovations to the property as the owner of the building. The town still owns the land.
“It’s not always what we wanted or needed, but it’s what we could afford,” said Stevenson.
The garages leave barely enough room for the ambulance rigs to get into the bays — drivers have to physically bump into the back wall in order for the doors to close. Emergency vehicles are stored in two separate locations on the same property. A garage behind the building was built by EAVES personnel, in order to save on construction costs.
There is roof damage in the bathrooms, and not enough bedrooms for staffers staying during long shifts.
In 2005, water rose in the building, high enough to reach the EMTs’ knees. More than $100,000 worth of damage was done when the wetlands and creek near the building flooded. In the seven years since, the building and property has had a tendency to flood.
Fixing the building would be too costly for the service, which runs off donations and payments received from ambulance transports.
EAVES is looking to build a $1.2 million facility near Kirkville Road, which would pit them in the center of their district, where they respond to ambulance calls in the village of East Syracuse and northern parts of DeWitt.
The building, which is in its preliminary design stages, would be a 12,000-square-foot steel frame building. One quarter of that would be for vehicle storage.
“We’re sticking within our means,” Stevenson said. “We’re so out of space in the current building, it’s not even funny.”
EAVES has been working to raise money for the project through a brick drive. At the new facility, engraved bricks will make the walkway. Information about how to purchase those bricks is available on their website.
They’re also hosting a pig roast this weekend to kick off the capital campaign.
“We’re better at answering ambulance calls than being professional fundraisers,” Stevenson said.
