Estimated budget for new police station in Libertyville significantly increased

The size and scope of a new police station being planned in Libertyville have changed considerably and so has the estimated cost.

Village leaders Tuesday voted 5-0 to update the project budget from roughly $25 million to an estimated $43 million to accommodate essential space needs in a new modern building replacing the existing facility.

Approving the updated project costs allows FGMA Inc., architects of Chicago to proceed with the next phase of design and development of a new, larger building on the site of the longtime police headquarters at 200 E. Cook Ave.

The village began evaluating a new station in 2021 and added the project to the capital improvement plan in 2022. The $25 million estimate was preliminary for financial planning and discussion, according to a staff recommendation to approve the increase.

That original budget was based on a smaller scale project that contemplated reusing a building or renovating the existing 1968 building, said Village Administrator Kelly Amidei.

A nonhome-rule sales tax enacted in 2022 and expected to generate about $1.6 million a year was targeted as the funding source for a new facility to shift the burden from village property taxpayers.

But based on better than expected revenue from that source and additional general reserves the village was able to consider a modern use building on the existing site, she added.

“Following a detailed review of the facility needs study and further consultation with the project architect, it has become clear that the scope and requirements for the new station are more extensive than originally anticipated,” reads a staff recommendation to increase the project budget.

The revised $43 million budget is for an “essential” building size of 46,598 square feet, compared to the current 26,295 square feet. According to a description of existing conditions, the current building no longer meets modern police standards for safety, staffing and service.

The space will allow for key needed items including larger female locker rooms; a community/training room; improved indoor parking area; modernized firearm practice facility; staff wellness areas; and, improved lobby space.

The revised project estimate includes architect fees and renovation of leased space at 325 N. Milwaukee Ave. to relocate other village departments that occupy about a third of the existing building.

Building out the new location has been ongoing and that move is expected in early August.