Long Beach’s Cultural Heritage Commission is recommending the old Fire Station 9 be designated a historic landmark, potentially complicating the city’s plan to sell the 1938 building.

After some firefighters were sickened by recurring mold in the building, the station’s personnel and equipment were moved to other stations in 2019; a new station eventually will be built a few blocks north of the old one.

The planning commission considered demolishing the 85-year-old station in 2021 but postponed any decision so officials could explore whether the site at 3917 Long Beach Blvd. could be reused. The city is now sifting through proposals from 19 bidders for the property.

Nearby residents who belong to the Los Cerritos Neighborhood Association had implored the city to save the old station, arguing it has historic value as an example of architect William Horace Austin’s work, and because it was built by the Depression-era Works Progress Administration.

They made their case again Wednesday to the Cultural Heritage Commission, which voted to recommend that the City Council designate it a city historic landmark. That designation would only apply to the outside of the building, but the commission is set to discuss at a future meeting whether to grant historic status to interior features that are intact such as original doors, built-in cabinetry and the fire hose tower.

If the council agrees to list the station as historic, it could create additional red tape for the property’s eventual buyer, because it would require city approval to make changes to the outside of the building such as painting and replacing windows.

Community Development Director Christopher Koontz told commissioners that while “there are many arguments for landmarking this building,” applying the historic designation to parts of the inside could make it hard to renovate and reuse—and less attractive to potential buyers.

He didn’t provide details of the proposals but said all of them were for “adaptive reuse” of the station.

The City Council is expected to consider and potentially choose among the bids for the property in late October or early November, Koontz said, which could happen before the commission makes a recommendation on the interior features.