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Ordinance Designating Fire Station No. 2 at 602 South 5th Avenue as a Local Historic Landmark
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Department: |
Planning & Development |
Meeting Date: |
11/17/2026 |
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Contact Name: |
Alden Finholm |
Public Hearing: |
Yes |
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Contact Phone: |
910-772-4165 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
November 6, 2026, November 13, 2026 /Star News |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Ordinance; Attachment #2: Case Summary; Attachment #3: Case Map; Attachment #4: Local Landmark Application; Attachment #5: Applicant Photos; Attachment #6: State Historic Preservation Office Comments; Attachment #7: Property Tax Bill |
PURPOSE:
The applicant requests that Fire Station No. 2, located at 602 South 5th Avenue, be designated as a local historic landmark.
BACKGROUND:
Pursuant to N.C.G.S. §§160D-945 and 160D-946 and Chapter 18 of the City Code, the City has the authority to designate local historic landmarks. This ordinance would designate the property at 602 S. 5th Ave, including the interior of the building, as a local historic landmark and would require approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness (“COA”) by the Historic Preservation Commission (“HPC”) for major alterations to the building's exterior and interior. Designation as a local historic landmark also makes the property owner eligible for a 50% property tax deferral.
Fire Station No. 2 is significant for its association with the development of the Wilmington Fire Department and its architectural character. Constructed in 1915, the building was designed by local architect James F. Gause, Jr., to serve as a fire station for Engine Company No. 2, which occupied the building until 1956. The property is also associated with Fire Chief Charles Schnibben, the first chief of Wilmington’s professional Fire Department, established in 1897. Schnibben advocated for the construction of the station and the modernization of the department’s equipment. During its early years, Engine Company No. 2 relied on horses to pull its firefighting apparatus until the department began transitioning to motorized equipment in 1919.
The building reflects this period of change in Wilmington’s fire service and the City’s investment in municipal infrastructure. Its Mission Revival style is evident in its red-brick exterior, terra cotta detailing, hipped slate roof, bracketed eaves, stepped parapet, and prominent tower. After the Fire Department vacated the building, the City sold the property in 1958, and it was later adapted for office, residential, and studio use. Since 2017, it has served as a wedding and event venue. Although the interior has been altered for adaptive reuse, the building retains its historic character and many architectural features, allowing it to convey its significance as a former fire station and an important part of Wilmington’s civic history.
In 2002, the HHPC placed the subject property on the local landmark study list. Following the review of an application for local landmark designation on October 8, 2026, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommended that the City Council consider the property for local landmark designation.
budget
BUDGET IMPACT:
The anticipated cost to the City is the cost of a commemorative plaque and 50% percent annual deferral of property taxes (approx. $1,640.93 per year for the City).
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff recommends the designation of Fire Station No. 2 as a Local Historic Landmark, as it meets the requirements set forth in N.C.G.S. §§160D-945 and 160D-946 and Chapter 18 of the City Code.