The La Mott Fire Company is planning to build a four-unit, 3,000 sf apartment building behind its firehouse at 7600 Penrose Avenue in Elkins Park, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

According to their coverage, the apartments are intended for firefighters who would be offered free or reduced rent. Company officials are hoping the gesture helps attract more volunteers and improve response times.

The company filed plans with Montgomery County in early September to build the addition, and those plans are moving through the township approval process, The Inquirer said. The unit would have a door directly into the firehouse and each apartment would have its own bedroom, bathroom, and sitting room, with a shared kitchen, laundry, and communal area.

Most of the company’s roughly 30 active members are trained volunteers, though paid firefighters have been hired in recent years, The Inquirer said, noting that a payment plan for the units’ utilities and maintenance is currently unclear.

The fire company also plans renovate the existing 1950s building. The apartments could be open as soon as early 2028, The Inquirer said.

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