The City of Cincinnati plans to sell the former Fire Station No. 51 at in College Hill to the highest bidder.

Bidding for the 3,800-square-foot building will start at $55,000, the fair market value as determined by the City's Property Management and Real Estate-Relocation Services Division.

The vacant single-bay firehouse, built in 1914, originally served as a substation for the Cincinnati Police Department.

Cincinnati Fire Department's Engine 51 took over the property in May 1926 following a volunteer-fueled renovation that required only $2,000 in City funds*.

Engine 51 relocated to a new $3.8 million, 12,000-square-foot facility at the corner of Hamilton and Llanfair avenues in November 2009.

* Approximately $24,000 in 2009 dollars.

Previous reading on BC:
College Hill's new green fire station a 'significant investment' (11/17/09)
Cincinnati, College Hill celebrate groundbreaking for new LEED fire station (2/9/09)