OLD FIRE STATION FOR SALE CITY, SCHOOL DISTRICT GET FIRST DIBS ON BIDS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - For sale: one-story brick building; 2,490-square-foot garage; 1,577-square-foot dormitory and bathroom area with room for 10 twin beds; 1,659-square-foot kitchen and dining area. Lots of possibilities; $270,000.

Los Angeles County is selling the old Fire Station 33 in the 44800 block of Cedar Avenue, and bidding on the 1966 structure is starting at $270,000.

Already the Lancaster School District and the city have expressed interest as well as a half-dozen private parties. School districts and local government agencies, however, get first dibs on it.

``We need more room for our district office and maintenance operations,'' trustee Richard White said. ``We really need the space.''

City officials said they are eyeing the building as a new home for a small church that is in the way of a senior apartment complex proposed in the redevelopment plan north of Lancaster Boulevard.

``We'll have to sit down and talk with the school district,'' City Manager Jim Gilley said last week.

Gilley said the city has offered the school district land at the city maintenance yard, north of Avenue H. The old fire station, however, is across the street from the school district's main office.

The Lancaster school board at last week's meeting approved allowing the district to submit a bid to buy the property, which is on an 18,880- square-foot lot zoned for commercial, retail and business uses. The district would use city redevelopment funds.

``It's something we've been interested in since it went empty, because we need extra space,'' Superintendent Steve Gocke said.

Firefighters moved out of the Cedar Avenue station and into a new Station 33 that opened last spring on Date Avenue, north of Lancaster Boulevard.

County property management officials said old fire stations spark buyers' interest.

``Fire stations are kind of popular. People like that open layout,'' said Carlos Brea, manager of property management with the Chief Administrative Office.

Private parties buy them and convert them to commercial use. One woman bought a fire station in South Central Los Angeles around the corner from her meat market and converted it to a dormitory for her employees, officials said.

Before scheduling a public auction, the county first sends out notices to local government agencies, like cities and school districts, to see if they are interested, Brea said.

``Schools and government agencies have the first right of refusal. If they are interested, all they have to do is let us know and we can directly negotiate with them,'' Brea said.

Firefighters who worked and lived at the Cedar Avenue station have fond memories of the building. The garage is actually the apparatus floor, where the fire rigs were parked. The living quarters were on one side, and the office, kitchen and day room were on the other.

The dormitory had room for 10 twin beds with brick partitions or dividers that would ``give us a break from guys snoring,'' Firefighter Mike Linch said.

There was a locker room next to the dorm, and bathroom with two showers, two toilets and two sinks, Linch said. The kitchen had old appliances and a ``dishwasher that was always broken,'' Linch said.

``The crew enjoyed the (old) station because of the camaraderie and closeness. The new station has separate rooms with doors. It's a little different and not quite as open. It was a fun station. Everybody enjoyed it. All of us old-timers miss it,'' said Linch, a 21-year firefighter.

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The old Los Angeles County Fire Station 33 on Cedar Avenue in Lancaster, asking price $270,000, has been empty since crews moved to a new facility last spring.

Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer