GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A frontrunner has emerged for the site of a new Green Bay police and fire headquarters.
The roughly 10-acre area is behind the Green Bay Metro Transit Center. The streets that border it are Webster Avenue, Quincy, Day, and Harvey Streets.
The region is primarily filled with homes.
“That could be problematic, because there are a lot of private homes on that spot, but I think a police station in that neighborhood would be really beneficial for that neighborhood, plus it’s close to downtown,” said Chief Andrew Smith of the Green Bay Police Department.
Being close to downtown, within a two-mile radius, is one of several criteria in the search for a headquarters site.
The property also must be at least five acres, enough for a building with an 80,000 square foot first floor.
So far, the city hasn’t found any existing buildings that would fit those desires.
“Everything is on the table right now,” said Smith. “We’re willing to look at any site or any other site that pops up while we’re doing this investigation.”
“It’s about as centrally located as you’re going to find,” said David Nennig, one of the city’s aldermen and a member of the steering committee looking for a site. “That’s one of the reasons why transit located there because the access for going on either side of the river is very good at that site.”
Another reason the police department likes the site is it could incorporate Brisk Park.
The department has somewhat taken ownership of the park because it is named after former police captain, Harold Brisk.
“We would definitely maintain a Brisk Park site on the property over there,” said Smith.
One of the next moves will be looking at cost.
Bray Architects has estimated a construction to cost at least $34,400,000.
That’s not counting the price of any land acquisition.
The site would require the city to purchase about 30 properties.
“Because it’s in the flood plain, they can’t make any real substantial improvements to their property without going through an elaborate process,” said Nennig. “So people that are in that area may be eager to sell it if they can get a fair price for their properties.”
City and police leaders say the department has outgrown its current building, which is nearly 50 years old.
Chief Smith says it needs short-term work as it is.
For example, water was coming through the roof, onto employees, during the last rainfall.
The city hopes to finalize a new site before the end of the year.
