ZELIENOPLE — The Zelienople Historical Society is weighing in on the Harmony Fire District’s search for a new home.

The fire district has not made a decision on where headquarters will be, although East Grandview Avenue was on the list of possibilities.

The historical society sent a letter in February to the fire district imploring them to seek areas which will not potentially demolish historical buildings.

“The Zelienople Historical Society, representing the historical preservation desires of the community, is very interested in keeping the Grandview Avenue neighborhood intact, rather than replacing historic structures with new and lessor-quality construction,” said President Cathy Powell in the letter.

The letter uses an example of how colonial homes built in the 1800s across from the post office were demolished to make way for development.

“One home was a beautiful 2.5-story brick house, built by Charles Passavant for his new bride in 1892, and is now the parking lot for Walgreens Drug Store,” Powell states in the letter.

Fire District President Tim Sapienza said the fire district is looking at other locations for headquarters.

“We’ve pretty much abandoned that site,” Sapienza said Friday about East Grandview Avenue. “We haven’t totally ruled it out, but we are looking elsewhere.”

The fire district has been searching for a new headquarters since its inception in late 2015. Firefighters are currently serving out of the former headquarters for the Harmony Volunteer Fire Department on Harmony’s Main Street.

Officials said they are seeking a location to better serve Harmony and Zelienople boroughs, as well as surrounding areas through improved service times.

However, the district is also trying to keep its Insurance Service Office rating low, which will reflect on residents’ fire insurance costs.

Sapienza said the fire district has been able to lower its ISO rating from a five to a three. He also said the fire district saved about $30,000 in insurance costs.

Grandview Avenue is commercially zoned. However, the historical society is working to have that street and Main Street historically zoned.

The society recently provided the borough a $12,500 match for a state grant aimed toward preserving historical buildings. It also conducted a study in 2015 and 2016 measuring buildings’ historical value.

Powell also states in the letter that the historical society is working with the fire district on finding a new location that will not harm historical homes.

“We know it is not easy to find a proper location, but we know other locations are being considered that are currently vacant land and will not require demolition expenses,” Powell states in the letter.

Sapienza said he has spoken with society members on the situation, including about how a decision has not been made.

Grandview Avenue residents have also previously expressed concern over potential noise from fire engines, impact on traffic and possible decreased resale value on homes.

Sapienza said other undisclosed locations are being considered and that the district does not wish to inconvenience people.

“We don’t want to cause any problems,” he said.

A full presentation will be given once a final decision has been made.

The former headquarters for the Zelienople Volunteer Fire Department was closed soon after the fire district’s inception as members moved to the current headquarters in Harmony. Sapienza said that the former Zelienople location would not have suited the fire district’s needs.