Arlington Heights unanimously approves police station plans
Plans for Arlington Heights' $27.9 million police station earned unanimous approval Monday from the village board, paving the way for construction to begin on the two-level, 70,500-square-foot building this summer.
The new station, at 200 E. Sigwalt St., will be built in between village hall and fire station #1 once the existing 38-year-old cop shop is demolished. That 38,000-square-foot facility has become cramped and outdated, village and police department officials say, and isn't able to meet current and future needs.
For example, basement hallways have become makeshift storage rooms, a former dark room now houses the department's traffic unit, and old high school-style lockers barely have room for officers' gear.
"When you started, you were given a couple shirts, a ticket book, flashlight and hat, and told to go to work," Deputy Police Chief Nick Pecora said.
The department has grown since that time from 80 employees to 139. Nearby towns, including Palatine, Hoffman Estates and Elk Grove Village, have since built larger police stations of at least 70,000 square feet.
Arlington Heights has been studying a possible expansion or new police station for some two decades - having done two feasibility studies in 2010 and 2015 - that eventually led to the decision to start construction drawings last year, and culminating in approval of those plans Monday night.
Trustee Jim Tinaglia, who sits on the village committee that is planning the new police station, said there's nothing about the new building that is "wasteful" or "overdone."
"This is a handsome building," Tinaglia said. "It's done in a great way without being overdone. It's not too heroic, but definitely pedestrian-scale. It feels good, it looks traditional, and it looks like it fits nicely in our community."
The building's first floor would include a 10,000-square-foot indoor garage, booking area, jail cells, and patrol and records divisions. The second floor would house investigations, community services, administration, a fitness center and locker rooms. The basement would have a firing range, training room and evidence storage.
The project is being funded through a $35 million bond issue approved in January 2016 that will cover construction costs, architectural and engineering expenses, furniture, equipment, renting a temporary police station, demolishing the current station and improving the parking lot.
Village officials are still working to find a temporary location during the estimated 18-month construction period, which could begin as early as June.