Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Sea Cliff Fire Department is nearing the end of a sweeping, multiyear renovation of its historic firehouse, a project that firefighter Phil Como says has transformed a deteriorating building into a well maintained and functional space for volunteers and the community.
The work, which began in 2019 and has unfolded in phases, included rebuilding the station’s cast iron bay doors, replacing floors, repainting rooms, restoring the bell tower, waterproofing the roof, modernizing bathrooms and rebuilding all the building’s windows. Funding came from a mix of private donations, village support, grants, and insurance money.
Como, a member of the department’s house committee, said the project started in 2019 following years of neglect.
He said he began raising private donations, eventually securing roughly $90,000, which helped kickstart the project’s early stages, including work on the station doors and some interior improvements. Additional funding came from the Village of Sea Cliff, which owns the building and provides the fire department’s budget.
Como said his collaboration with village officials, especially Mayor Elena Villafane, was essential as the scope of the upgrades expanded.
“Mayor Villafane was collaborative and cooperative throughout, as well as Trustee Pinto” Como said. “They know that we all have a responsibility and accountability for this building.”
Villafane said the village viewed the firehouse renovation as both a necessity and a long-term investment, especially given the building’s age and landmark status.
“This building is one of Sea Cliff’s most important historic assets, and the volunteers who rely on it deserve a facility that is safe and functional,” Villafane said. “The village has been committed to supporting the department’s efforts to restore and preserve it.”
The station, built in the early 1930s and dedicated in 1938, required careful attention to its historic features. Among the largest components of the renovation was the full replacement and restoration of the building’s windows, supported by what Como described as an 80/20 foundation grant secured by the village.
“The windows were done,” he said. “Every window in the building was taken out and rebuilt.”
The iconic bell tower also received major work. Como said the bell, which dates to 1833 and was designed by an apprentice of Paul Revere, had been sitting in a wooden cradle that was becoming unstable.
“We raised money and the village kicked in the remainder,” he said. “It turned out really great.”
He said the restoration fortified the entire bell tower and returned the bell to regular daily use.
The roof, original to the building, was another major undertaking. Chronic leaks forced extensive waterproofing work, including new membranes, repairs to compromised copper and reinforcement across the tower area.
“The copper was compromised, so he did this over,” Como said, referencing Wayne Unholzer of Buckingham Construction. “It was the original roof.”
Interior improvements were just as extensive. Three bathrooms were completely rebuilt, including new floors, tile, fixtures, and layouts. Company rooms, offices, and the main hall received new flooring, carpeting, lighting, and paint. The lobby was redesigned and repainted, and ceilings were cleaned or replaced.
“This lobby in its entirety was revamped,” Como said. “That ceiling, this flooring, the protective matting, the paint job, the lighting, all done here.”
He said the work unfolded gradually, sometimes simultaneously, but often one project at a time, depending on available funding and volunteer labor.
Como emphasized that the success of the project rested on cooperation between the department’s membership, the chiefs, and the village.
“This has really been a community effort,” he said. “The Village Board, the chiefs, the people who donated to support us, everyone helped make this happen.
He said the department’s firefighters have taken pride in the improvements and have become increasingly careful with the renovated space.
Village officials said the cooperation was mutual.
“The department came forward with a clear plan and a lot of initiative,” Villafane said. “When volunteers put in this level of effort, the village is proud to support them.”
The only major project still pending is replacement of the truck floor, which Como said has reached the end of its lifespan.
The department plans to fund an epoxy resurfacing to the space, which will provide improved durability, through its May 2026 5K race .
“That’ll be the last thing I can think of that has to be done,” Como said. “The building has had a remarkable revival.”
He said the total cost of the years of work, including the bell, windows and interior restoration, was somewhere between $675,000 and $700,000.
Looking back, Como said the most important outcome was the shared commitment that formed around the project. Nick Pinto, deputy mayor and the village’s liaison to the department, emphasized that supporting the department continues to be one of the village’s top priorities.
“The firehouse really is the crown jewel of the village,” he said. “It’s important to Sea Cliff, and the volunteer men and women there really care for that building like it was one of their own.”
