Iowa couple turns abandoned fire station into dream family home
An Iowa couple transformed an abandoned, mold-infested fire station into their family home after purchasing it for $90,000. Despite initial financial struggles and safety concerns, the couple leveraged the building's solid concrete structure to create a unique living space.
Why it matters
This story reflects the trend of adaptive reuse in real estate and the personal determination required to overcome financial and structural barriers in homeownership.
Growing up in Iowa, Steven and Ashley Evans knew all about the local fire station in Cedar Rapids because it was right by the high school they both attended. “We always dreamed we’d live here one day. It went up for sale and we thought we’d come check it out,” Steven, 40, told CNBC Make It in an interview. In 2016, when the Evans first saw it was for sale, listed for $125,000, it had been abandoned for years and was covered in black mold. According to a report by CNBC, the couple had no intentions of purchasing it because they didn’t have the finances at the time. But after taking a look, Steven secretly put in an offer of $90,000 and it was accepted.
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