News
November 13, 2008
Raleigh Police To Move To Interim Headquarters On Six Forks Road
Mayor Charles Meeker announced today that next year at this time, the City of Raleigh Police Department’s headquarters will be located at 6716 Six Forks Road.
The City held a media conference in the lobby of the former Builders Mutual Insurance building to inform the community of its plans for the interim housing of several of the Police Department’s divisions to make way for the building of a Raleigh public safety center.
“The move of Police headquarters to this building is necessary to accommodate this major initiative to advance Raleigh’s public safety capabilities to the highest level,” Mayor Meeker said.
The Police Department’s headquarters is scheduled to move to the north Raleigh facility next autumn. In September, the City Council approved the purchase of the office building at 6717 Six Forks Road for $6.23 million to serve this purpose. It was brought from Builders Mutual Insurance and the North Carolina Home Builders Assoc.
The approximately 46,000-square-foot building was built in 1999 and sits on 2.26 acres and has 142 parking spaces. The building will house several divisions of the Police Department that currently are located at 100 S. McDowell St. These include Administrative Services, the Chief’s Office, the Detective Division, Field Operations, an Information Desk and Police Records.
Police Chief Harry Dolan stated that Police district offices will remain where residents can visit for all Police or crime prevention matters. The district offices are located at the following addresses:
-
Northwest District, 8016 Glenwood Ave.;
-
North District, 8320-120 Litchford Rd.;
-
Northeast District, 4501 Atlantic Ave.;
-
Southeast District, 1601-30 Crosslink Rd.;
-
Southwest District, 601 Hutton St.; and,
-
Downtown District, 110 S. McDowell St. (The new district office will be open in the autumn at 218 W. Cabarrus St.)
Mayor Meeker was joined at the media conference by District A Council Member Nancy McFarlane, who thanked City staff for its support in brining the interim headquarters to north Raleigh. “We have had a number of projects located here recently,” she continued, “such as parks and greenways. We are very pleased to have the police headquarters in our community.”
The Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center will be built on the corner of Hargett and McDowell streets, the current site of the Police headquarters. The Lighter Public Safety Center will be a state-of-the-art facility of about 16 stories and approximately 305,000 square feet. In addition to Police, the building will serve as headquarters for the Fire Department and will house the Raleigh/Wake Emergency Communications Center.
“The public safety center will enhance the City’s ability to consolidate public safety operations and other local government offices and functions in one location,” said Mayor Meeker.
The following will be located in the new building:
-
Police Department;
-
Fire Department;
-
Emergency Communications Center and the Emergency Operations Center;
-
Traffic Control Center;
-
Information Technology Department and Data Center;
-
Building Maintenance Division;
-
City Credit Union offices;
-
A 600-seat assembly hall; and,
-
A small café and public gallery.
Named in honor of the late Clarence E. Lightner who served as mayor of Raleigh from 1973-75, the public safety center is expected to be a catalyst and centerpiece of the Nash Square neighborhood renewal effort in downtown Raleigh. Facing Hargett Street and Nash Square will be the building’s public “front porch” (a comfortable gathering place) and interior public lobby area. The public safety center also will have a distinctive rooftop.
The City intends to seek certification of the public safety center as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold project with the United States Green Building Council. LEED certification distinguishes building projects that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by meeting the highest performance standards. The effort includes promoting an energy and water-efficient design, recycling building materials and designating the building as being smoke-free for visitors and employees.
Kling Stubbins/Cherry Huffman is providing design work and other professional services for construction of the public safety center.
Under a projected schedule, the existing Police Department headquarters at 110 S. McDowell St. would be demolished in the fourth quarter of 2009. Construction of the public safety center is scheduled to begin at the same time, with completion expected by 2012. The project is estimated to cost $226 million, including construction, furnishings and equipment, professional fees and permits, relocation and interim real estate costs, and an escalation and owner’s contingency fund.
Prepared by:
Jayne Kirkpatrick
Director
Public Affairs Department
For More Information Contact:
Wayne Black
Construction Management
Public Works Department
434 Fayetteville Street, Suite 1730
Raleigh, NC 27601
919-807-5575
|
