After listening to four proposals for a much-needed new police headquarters, the city commission voted to consider the lowest bidder, Renaissance Commons developer Jim Comparato.
A group of about 20 residents who favor a police department in the city's downtown area left disappointed. The single proposal that would put the police headquarters east of I-95 was formally dropped from consideration. Downtown supporters had told commissioners during the meeting that relocating the police department west of downtown could open that area to blight and lower housing values.
The commission had placed a $30 million price tag on an 80,000-square-foot police headquarters, but Renaissance Commons owner Comparato said he could cut that figure in half by using an existing new building at 1500 Gateway Boulevard, just east of Congress Avenue and the city's bustling commercial, retail and restaurant corridor.
By next month, the commission is expected to approve the wording of a referendum that will ask the city's voters to pay for the new police headquarters.
The long-crowded police department, now located at Seacrest and Boynton Beach Boulevard, is crammed into a 22,000-square-foot wing of the city hall building.
By Lona O'Connor, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009
