Once home to horse-drawn fire wagons, the 1905 fire station was purchased by HANDS in 2010 and renovated in 2012. The restoration preserved much of the original brick and interior tin walls and ceilings while a distinctive redesign of interior loft spaces features large skylights, open floor plans, modern amenities and outdoor decks. The building, located in the center of the Valley Arts Districts, houses seven mixed-use residential and commercial units.

Despite the challenging economy at the time, HANDS, rehabbed the property as part of an effort to revitalize a former industrial neighborhood known as the Valley. As part of the strategy to create one hundred permanently affordable arts spaces, HANDS rehabilitated key properties to house artists, innovators and creative entrepreneurs – catalysts for bringing this urban neighborhood back to life in an equitable and inclusive way.  .

Project funding comes from the State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program and corporate contributors Chubb Insurance, TD Bank, NJ PURE CURE and Valley National Bank. Construction financing comes from New Jersey Community Capital.