A task force has recommended it be within one-mile of the Square Corner.
Frederick, Md (KM). A request for information has been sent out by the City for property owners who may have a location for a new Frederick Police headquarter.
Mayor Michael O’Connor says a community task force has been working on that issue since before he took office. He says the panel has recommended that the new headquarters be located within one-mile of the Square Corner, which is the intersection of Market and Patrick Streets. “I know our residents want our Police Department to remain in a place that’s visible and is accessible. So there’s a lot of considerations going into that,” he says.
Mayor O’Connor was a guest this week on “The Morning News Express” with Bob Miller on WFMD.
The Frederick Police Department has been located at the County Court House for many year, and space there is at a premium.
A needs assessment for the Police Department has been conducted, and an architectural firm has proposed a new facility of 59,140 square feet Other criteria from the Task force include a one-story building about 60,000 square feet; or a two-story building with 38,000 square feet on the first floor, and 22,000 square feet on the second floor. It would also include 270 to 340 parking spaces, and 300-feet of road frontage.
The City has set a deadline of March 30th to receive requests for information.
But Mayor O’Connor says the process is more than just picking a site. “There’s two sides to this: one is the site selection process, and determining location and needs. And then there’s the budget side of the house as well. We have to figure out where the dollars come from, and lot of that depends on what site we select. Is it something we already control? Is it something we have to acquire? Leasing operations? Who knows,” O’Connor said.
Other properties that were being considered for the new Police headquarters include the former Trinity School at New Design Road and Stadium Drive, and part of the Hargett Farm Property off of Butterfly Lane.
By Kevin McManus