St. Johns County has officially broken ground on a new $13 million public safety complex that will house Fire Station 22 and a St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center.
The ceremony took place last week and drew local officials and community members to mark the milestone.
The 20,000-square-foot facility will serve the north-central region of the county, including the new Silverleaf community and neighborhoods along County Road 210 and State Road 16A.
Designed to improve coordination, the complex will allow firefighters and law enforcement officers to operate from a single location.
Officials say co-locating the key county services will improve collaboration and streamline operations.
Fire Station 22 will house a fire engine, tower truck, tanker, rescue unit, and a battalion chief’s vehicle.
The station is expected to host around 33 firefighters working across three shifts, with 11 staffers available at any given time around the clock.
The Sheriff’s Office portion of the facility will house the Criminal Investigations Division, relocating detectives from their current offices near the county detention facility.
“This is a significant step forward in taking care of our residents,” said District 1 Commissioner Christian Whitehurst. “Nobody takes better care of St. Johns County residents than our Sheriff’s Office and our firefighters. Seeing our Sheriff’s Office working hand in glove with Fire Rescue leadership to build a facility where they can operate together reflects the kind of partnership that benefits our community.”
“Public safety plays a major role in quality of life for our residents,” said Greg Caldwell, Director of St. Johns County Public Works. “This project strengthens our infrastructure and ensures first responders have the facilities they need.”
Completion is expected around the end of 2027.
