Charlotte Breaks Ground on Firehouse 44 in the River District, the Southeast's First Mass Timber Fire Station
The $23.3 million, all electric station on Dixie River Road will give the growing River District a permanent firehouse. A temporary station has served the area since early 2026.
Charlotte has started building a permanent fire station for the River District, the new community taking shape in west Charlotte along Dixie River Road. The city broke ground on Firehouse 44 on Thursday, Oct. 8, and says it will be the first mass timber firehouse in the Southeast. (City of Charlotte)
What is being built
According to the city's announcement, Firehouse 44 will be: (City of Charlotte)
- Two stories, with three apparatus bays and about 14,000 square feet.
- Built largely of mass timber, meaning engineered wood panels and beams used in place of much of the steel and concrete. The city says that choice lowers the building's carbon footprint and gives it a warmer, natural look.
- All electric, with geothermal heating and cooling, radiant heat in the floor slab, and what the city calls its first geothermal water heater.
- Topped with rooftop and ground-mounted solar panels the city expects to offset 100% of the building's energy costs.
- Fitted with low-flow fixtures aimed at cutting drinking water use by 43%.
The city is pursuing LEED Gold certification and the International Living Future Institute's Zero Carbon Certification. The project budget is $23.3 million, with Samet Corp. as design-builder and ADW Architects as architect.
Why it matters for the River District
The River District is a large, newer development, and more homes and businesses mean more 911 calls. In the city's announcement, Fire Chief Reginald T. Johnson put it simply: "More homes mean more residents. New roads, businesses and development bring more activity." (City of Charlotte)
The River District is not waiting on the new building for coverage. A temporary firehouse opened in early 2026 on Dixie River Road next to the permanent site, using a triple-wide trailer for crews and a pre-engineered building to house the trucks. (City of Charlotte)
For anyone weighing a move to this part of town, a staffed station nearby is one of the practical pieces of infrastructure that tends to arrive after the first wave of homes. The permanent station adds a long-term home for that service.
What we do not know yet
The city's announcement does not give a completion date or a street address for the permanent station. We will update when the city shares a timeline.
Curious about what else is changing around Charlotte? Our events calendar and Living in Charlotte section track what is new across the region.
Last verified October 20, 2026.
