Plans are moving forward to build a shelter in Foley to protect first responders during hurricanes or other emergencies.

The Foley City Council has approved the building’s design, which will feature an all-brick exterior. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the building will be both practical and designed to blend in with other nearby structures.

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“The building is going to look very good,” Hellmich said. “It’s very well-designed from that standpoint. It will be low maintenance. It will blend with the area.”

The project is expected to cost almost $6 million. 

A grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will pay about $5 million of the cost. 

The FEMA grant would have also allowed the city to use a less-expensive facade, known as an Exterior Insulation Finishing System, with part of the structure covered with bricks. The full-brick design, however, would reduce maintenance costs, city reports said.

The city has been working on the project for more than four years. Hellmich said the council approval is a major step toward construction.

“It's important that we go ahead and move this forward so that we can get this to FEMA,” he said. “The faster we get this to them for approval, then our architects can start getting this thing designed and then hopefully out to bid.”

The facility will provide a safe location for firefighters, police and other emergency responders to take shelter during a hurricane or other event. The building can also be used as a training center when not being utilized as a shelter.