Free Lease for Station

Free Lease for Station

Instead of an anticipated $100 monthly rental increase to $750, the Arcade Fire District in Sacramento County, Calif., obtained a rent-free, 99-year lease on the building housing Station 4.

The station, one of four operated by the fire district, is in a 3600-square-foot building owned by Joseph and Richard Benvenuti in a rapidly expanding industrial area south of McClellan Air Force Base. Chief Matt DePauli, who negotiated the free lease that runs from last July 1 to June 30, 2078, described that station’s location as better than an alternate site being considered. Upon the signing of the lease, DePauli canceled a $100,000 appropriation of revenue-sharing funds made by the Sacramento Board of Supervisors to build a station on school district property.

The Arcade Fire District protects an area of 9.2 square miles with a population of 65,000.

Richard Benvenuti (second from right) landlord of the property occupied by Arcade’s Station 4, presents framed rent-free agreement to Robert Ferry, vice president, Sacramento Board of Supervisors, while Arcade Fire District Director Jim Theobold, Sacramento County Supervisor Sandra Smoley, and Arcade Fire Chief Matt DePauli look on.

Photo by Captain Tom Dodaro

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