Myrtle Beach officials in South Carolina are moving forward with plans to build a new central fire station, with an estimated cost of $26 million to replace the city’s aging Fire Station No. 1.
The Myrtle Beach City Council approved a financing plan that will enable the city to issue long-term debt for the project, with the cost repaid over time through hospitality fee revenues generated by the city’s tourism economy rather than property taxes.
The new station would be built along Robert Grissom Parkway, near Mr. Joe White Avenue and U.S. 501, adjacent to the existing downtown station that officials describe as being outdated and unable to meet current and future operational needs. A new station would have the space and infrastructure to accommodate modern fire and emergency services.
Myrtle Beach has engaged an architecture firm to assist with the design of the new Fire Station No. 1, bringing specialized expertise in fire station planning as the city moves toward construction.
Plans call for a nearly 30,000-square-foot facility with six apparatus bays and room for future expansion, along with space for an emergency operations center that could be activated during major storms or other large-scale incidents. The new No. 1 will be more than double the size of the recently constructed No. 3 fire station.
The estimated $26 million cost includes construction, site preparation and related expenses. To pay for the project, Myrtle Beach leaders plan to issue` hospitality fee revenue bonds, which are repaid using tourism-related tax revenue rather than property taxes.
As part of that process, council members adopted a resolution of intent in April 2025, a procedural step that allows the city to move ahead with design and planning costs while keeping the option to issue tax-exempt bonds later.
City officials say construction is expected to begin in 2026, following completion of design work and final financing approvals. No decision has been announced regarding the future use of the existing Fire Station No. 1 once the new facility is complete.
Photo by Connor Scott McManus from Pexels
This story is a part of the weekly Government Contracting Pipeline digital news publication. See more of the latest government contracting news here. For more national government news, check Government Market News daily for new stories, insights and profiles from public sector professionals.
