The Albert Lea City Council is now considering a third site for the proposed new fire station.

The council on Monday approved looking into placing the fire station at a site east of the Freeborn County Law Enforcement Center in an area that includes 213 and 217 E. Pearl St., 411, 415 and 417 S. Newton Ave., 220 and 224 E. College St., and 406, 408, 410 and 412 E. Elizabeth St.

“We actually had looked at it about three years ago and it wasn’t available at that time, but a good portion of these properties which I just identified have recently become available,” said Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams.

The council is still considering placing the fire station on the East Main Street corridor or Blazing Star Landing.

Councilors last month directed Adams to look into acquiring land at 702 E. Main St., 714 E. Main St., 718 E. Main St., 801 E. Main St. and 802 E. Main St., along with 101 Shell Rock St. and a parcel jointly addressed at 302 Bridge Ave. and 304 Bridge Ave.

Adams said final site selection is expected in early May.

The site east of the law enforcement center allows for a close proximity to the building and a central location in the community, Adams said, adding a possible downside of the site is that it could slow the timeline for the project.

Under a best-case scenario, the city had anticipated construction could start in July or August with possible occupancy in spring 2019.

The planned approximately 25,000-square-foot fire station has been estimated to cost nearly $7 million, including site grading and mitigation and construction of the facility. The cost did not cover the projected cost to acquire land for the building.