Fayetteville is finally clearing the wreckage of Fire Station 4 after years of construction failures, lawsuits, and finger‑pointing.
On Monday, the City Council took its first step toward rebuilding the troubled station, voting to restart the project from the ground up.
Dan LaMontagne, senior project manager with Freese and Nichols who works under contract in the city’s Construction Management Division, asked the council to approve phase one, which focuses on clearing and stabilizing the Bragg Boulevard site.
The work will be paid for with about $1.53 million in remaining funding for the initial Fire Station 4 project and a 2022 voter-approved bond.
LaMontagne said the initial phase will “prepare a safe, stable, build‑ready site,” including clearing, grading, filling, stabilizing the ground, installing security, obtaining permits, inspections, testing, documentation, and closeout of the site‑clearing package.
He also requested authorization to hire Cumming Group, an international project management group to oversee the site preparation, demolition of the existing unfinished building, and the full rebuild.
The city will also begin a selection process for a construction manager at risk.
“Construction pricing, schedule, and such will come back to council for authorization later when that is complete,” LaMontagne told council.
The council voted unanimously to contract with Cumming and kick off the first phase of the project. The city’s direction is to demolish the partially built structure, along with all site work, infrastructure, and utilities installed during the failed first attempt.
According to the Cumming’s proposal, the goal is to return the property to “a clear and unencumbered site.”
Once demolition is complete, the city plans to rebuild Fire Station 4 using the original design team, Stewart Cooper Newell, and the original plans, updated to current code.
A Troubled History for Station 4
The council vote comes months after the city formally abandoned the original Fire Station 4 structure.
In February, the council accepted a consultant’s conclusion that the building was too compromised to salvage. The 57‑page report from Applied Building Sciences (ABS) documented extensive construction failures and placed sole responsibility on former contractor W.B. Brawley Co.
ABS found widespread issues with roofing, concrete thickness, plumbing materials, inspections, and moisture intrusion—ultimately recommending the city start over entirely.
That same month, all 21 parties involved in the city’s lawsuit against Brawley agreed to dismiss the case and attempt mediation.
The voluntary dismissal was filed February 13, the same day a Superior Court judge denied the city’s request to delay the trial until 2027. Trial had been set for March 23.
The city sued Brawley in September 2024, alleging the firm repeatedly performed defective work, refused to correct it, and allowed the project to fall more than a year behind schedule. By the time Fayetteville terminated Brawley for cause in late 2024, the $9.4 million project was only 60% complete, according to the city.
After the dismissal, Brawley President Jon Gore told CityView the company looks forward to “a reasonable and productive discussion” about the station’s future.
“We are committed to working together with the City to complete Fire Station No. 4, so Fayetteville residents can finally receive the safety benefits this project was intended to provide,” Gore said.
Gore has previously said Brawley “stands behind the quality of our work,” arguing many issues cited by ABS stemmed from incomplete work, long‑term exposure to the elements, or lacked supporting evidence.
He has shared a competing expert report with CityView that he claimed disputes portions of the ABS findings. Two additional competing reports exist but cannot be shared outside mediation, according to Ure Loop, spokesperson for Brawley. The city is in possession of remaining reports.
What Cumming Group Will Do—and What It Will Cost
Cumming Group’s role in the reboot is expansive. Under the proposed agreement, the firm will act as the city’s project manager from demolition through ribbon‑cutting, overseeing every major decision that shapes the new station.
Pre-construction is scheduled to launch in August, followed by the start of construction in January 2027, and target completion in July 2028, according to the proposal.
Cumming will guide the city team through evaluating and selecting a general contractor, according to a city press release. Meanwhile, city officials expect to share a revised timeline for completing Fire Station 4 in the coming months.
Two staff members will lead the work: Vice President Bryan Roof, billed at $315 an hour, and Associate Project Manager Chris Rizzo, billed at $140 an hour, according to the proposal.
The company is asking for a lump sum fee of $400,800, plus $16,550 in reimbursable expenses such as travel, lodging, postage, courier fees, and reproduction costs.
Their job begins with coordinating the design team and ensuring those plans are updated to current code. From there, Cumming will manage the flow of information between architects, engineers, contractors, procurement staff, and city officials, functioning as the single point of contact for a project that has been plagued with a breakdown of communication.
The firm will also monitor the project’s budget, review pay applications and invoices, and track change orders, the proposal says.
Schedule oversight is another core responsibility. Cumming will assemble a monthly milestone schedule that reflects the architect’s and contractor’s timelines, keeping the city informed about progress and delays without assuming responsibility for the contractor’s detailed scheduling work.
Reporting is also built into the agreement. Cumming will deliver monthly project reports and weekly executive summaries via email.
According to the agreement, either party can terminate this agreement with a 30-day written notice to the other.
Government reporter Rachel Heimann Mercader can be reached at rheimann@cityviewnc.com or 910-988-8045.
