Libertyville to share info on proposed $43 million police facility at open house
The vision for a new $43 million police station in Libertyville will be presented to the public at a drop-in open house Thursday.
Residents and others are invited to view exhibits and speak with village staff, consultants and others who will be available during the event from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Libertyville Civic Center, 135 W. Church St.
A new police station will replace the department’s longtime home at 200 E. Cook Ave., the former village hall built in 1968. Other village offices housed there have moved to renovated leased space and the building will be demolished.
After the open house, the zoning variance process will begin with the hope of going out to bid in early 2026.
A new police facility has been considered for about four years, when the village hired an architect to conduct a facility needs assessment. It was added to the village’s capital improvement plan in 2022.
Pursuit of the project accelerated last November with a request for proposals to design the station.
“It’s old, it’s antiquated, it’s run down — it’s really in poor shape,” said Mayor Donna Johnson, who has championed an upgrade since being elected to the top position in 2021.
Johnson, who chairs the village board’s fire and police committee, said Libertyville’s police facilities are “far behind” many communities locally and statewide.
In June, the village board approved updated project costs from roughly $25 million to an estimated $43 million to replace the existing station on the same site.
The cost jump was for an “essential” building of 46,598 square feet compared to the current 26,295 square feet. According to the village, the building no longer meets modern police standards for safety, staffing and service.
Key features of a new facility will include a five-lane firearms range, community room, flexible locker rooms, wellness spaces, offices, parking and more.
Since 2022, the village has collected a one-half percent local sales tax — generating about $2 million per year — for a new facilities fund with a police station the priority.
Including investment income, sale of the Libertyville Sports Complex and other sources, the fund balance is about $16 million. The village plans to borrow about $25 million by issuing bonds and transfer another $3 million from its general fund to cover the rest.
Property taxes won’t be used to fund the project, village officials say.
Regulations, mandates and how police facilities function have changed substantially since the current headquarters were built, village officials say, and a new station will allow for more effective operations and aid in recruitment and retention.