“Food on the Stove seeks to acquire the old vacant DC Firehouse at 1338 Park Road and convert it into a demonstration kitchen for firefighters to take free cooking classes while they are at work.”

1338 Park Road, NW via Change.org

Thanks to Darrell for passing on this Change.org petition (with already over 11,000 signatures:

“In 1900, architect Leon Dessez designed the Renaissance style firehouse then known then as Truck Company F which currently sits at 1338 Park Rd in Columbia Heights. It was later renamed to Truck Company 6 in 1906 and merged with Engine Company 11 in 1940. In 1984, Engine 11 and Truck Company 6 relocated to 3420 14th Street where it now serves the Columbia Heights neighborhood.

Food on the Stove seeks to acquire the old vacant DC Firehouse at 1338 Park Road and convert it into a demonstration kitchen for firefighters to take free cooking classes while they are at work. The space will also operate as a full-service restaurant to help Food on the Stove sustain its charitable operations including supplementing the cost of meals in the firehouse, by providing free boxes of food that contain all the ingredients firefighters will need to make healthy meals at the firehouse.

While many nonprofit organizations often find themselves in an unsustainable situation due to lack of grants and major donors, Food on the Stove sees the utilization of the firehouse as a creative way to bring awareness and revenue at the same time. Restaurant patrons will have the opportunity to dine with a purpose; with profits from the restaurant going back into programming and providing firefighters with healthier food options.

We are seeking signatures to show support for this endeavor. It is our belief that your signature will be instrumental in Food on the Stove getting Mayor Bowser and Department of General Services to agree to sell 1338 Park Road to Food on The Stove. After meeting with DGS, we were told that government buildings are not typically sold but leveraged to developers to gain more assets for the city. We believe firehouses that become vacant should be used to benefit firefighters as much as possible. Many people from this firehouse have sacrificed their life to save others, this is an opportunity to use this historic firehouse to save them.It is our belief that your signature will be instrumental in Food on the Stove getting Mayor Bowser and Department of General Services to agree to sell 1338 Park Road to Food on The Stove. After meeting with DGS, we were told that government buildings are not typically sold but leveraged to developers to gain more assets for the city. We believe firehouses that become vacant should be used to benefit firefighters as much as possible. Many people from this firehouse have sacrificed their life to save others, this is an opportunity to use this historic firehouse to save them.”