$4M building plan will split police from offices
NEW HANOVER » Township supervisors made their choice, selecting one of four options for a major construction and renovation project that will result in new administrative offices and a new home for the police department.
Last month, the supervisors were presented with four options for expanding both the administrative and police office space.
On Thursday, they picked one — to renovate the existing township building on Route 662 and the recreation center on Hoffmansville Road.
The township building will then be devoted entirely to administration and the recreation center would become the new police headquarters.
That option has a price estimate of $3.8 million to $4.5 million.
Supervisors’ Chairman Charles D. Garner Jr. was joined by W. Ross Snook and Vice Chairman Kurt Zebrwoski in favoring that option.
Supervisors Boone Flint and Marie Marie Livelsberger said they preferred an option that moved the administrative offices to a renovated recreation building and put the police in a renovated township building off Route 663.
Currently, township administration and police share the same 6,150-square-foot building.
The building was built in 1976, has a leaky roof, and space has become too cramped for the growing departments.
Police Chief Kevin McKeon and Township Manager Jamie Gwynn had also recommended the option favored by the majority.
Both said having the police at the recreation center, located on Hoffmansville Road, would give the police department room to grow in years to come as the township population grows.
“You can put 25 to 30 guys in here, no problem. It fits us perfectly, and we will have so much storage,” McKeon told the board. He said a police car can get anywhere in the township from that site in seven minutes.
Both said the space at the center, with sits on a large plot of open land, provides room to expand for the next 30 years.
There was no discussion prior to the vote about whether the recreation facilities in the building, including the large gymnasium, will be preserved for recreation use.
The other options from which the supervisors could choose were as follows:
Similar to the one chosen except the police department taking over a renovated township building on Route 663 and the administration moving to a renovated parks and recreation building on Hoffmansville Road. This option had an estimated price range of $3.7 million to $4.4 million. Renovate the existing township building entirely for use by the administration and construct a new 6,500 square-foot police station on the adjacent property. This had an estimated price range of $4.4 million to $5.4 million. Renovate the existing building to house both police and administration, but expand it to connect to the current public works building, creating a 12,400 square-foot space. Then a new 3,000 square-foot public works building would be constructed on the site. This option has an estimated price range between $4.7 million and $5.6 million.
“Well, you have your direction,” Garner told the project architect, Randy Galiotto from the Bethlehem-based firm, Alloy 5. “Let us know when it’s time for the next steps.”