Greater Sudbury Police Services board have approved a three-year, $18.8 million plan that would renovate and expand the force's headquarters.
The proposal, which has to be approved by city council, would include upgrades to police's Brady Street location, adding about 23,000 square feet, while an additional 28,000 square feet would be added to the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre in Azilda.
Chief Paul Pedersen said the debate over what do to with the police building dates back to the 1990s, when the force converted the space for its headquarters.
"This tower was not built for police,” Pedersen said. “It was open space that the police moved into."
That has led to a number of long-term issues and conflicts. For example, suspects, victims and even the media all ride in the same elevator. The only public meeting space is on the fifth floor, meaning anyone who attends has to be escorted from the main lobby and back again.
Mould is a growing issue, forcing staff to relocate while the problems are addressed, then move back again when it's cleaned up, until another problem is found.
"I don't think I need to explain to anybody how inefficient that is, or how distressing that is in your workplace," Pedersen said.
And police now host weekend bail court, which means they have to give lawyers access to clients.
"That was never imagined when this facility was built," he said. "It brings with it a number of security concerns."
CAO Sharon Baiden said they have been studying options for several years, including moving into empty city buildings or former schools.
"But they are old buildings to begin with," Baiden said. "So it really came down to a couple of options with us."
One option was a new building, but it would cost between $46 million and $53 million. There aren't financial resources available for a project that size, so instead they're proposing the renovation and expansion plan.
Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini, who is a member of the police services board, said renovating the police building is one of the most important priorities the city has at the moment – including the four big projects the city has identified previously as priorities. They include a new arena, library and art gallery, the Synergy Centre and the Place des Arts.
"As a councillor, I look at (policing) as one of our core services," Vagnini said. "This should take precedence over any of those large-scale projects."
"Right now, our facility's shortcomings are at a critical level," Pedersen said. "Make no mistake, facilities are expensive and this is an expensive discussion. But this is an investment in community safety. We do enjoy a safe life here in Sudbury."
If approved by city council, Baiden said this wouldn't be a stop-gap measure delaying the inevitable need for a new building.
"We're hoping, in fact, that this will be the long-term solution for our facility," she said.
