The second to last item on the council agenda this week was the report out on the Police Station needs assessment and the possibility of building the new station on the Wooding-Caplan property.
Dave Moran from the Record Journal posted an article Humes gives Wallingford council final station report, advising against expansion on MyRecordJournal.com with all the details.
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The short summary:- Jacunski Humes Architects of Berlin hired study the possibilities
- Expand the 28,117-square-foot station at 135 N. Main St
- Build a new structure on the Wooding-Caplan property.
- The Police Department's needs through 2030
- 47,000 square foot station
- 150 parking spaces
- The report estimates that a new station on the Wooding-Caplan parcel would cost the town $20.25 million, if construction were to begin next spring
- The price tag jumps to $23.69 million, if it were to begin in 2014, taking into account inflation of material and construction costs.
- Police Chief Douglas Dortenzio indicted that construction completion and occupancy would be three years from the start date
So bloggers – what are your thoughts?
The Chief indicated there is no practical way to manage a satellite station or a precinct in a town like Wallingford with a smaller population than a city like Hartford or New Haven. Do you agree with this?
The comment was also made that the current station is at its capacity and has "no growth room."
The Chief commented that the issue of an adequate facility for the Police Department versus the town's ability to pay for it is a question of priorities.
What should the town’s priorities be in this situation?
Should we defer construction for down the road when we might be in a better position to pay for it knowing that it will be more expensive or should we tighten that belt a little more and get started with the project while its a buyers market as far as construction, materials and labor goes?
