University Place Town Center has a new tenant. The city Police Department finished moving into the civic and library building last week. The department had shared space with West Pierce Fire & Rescue in the old public safety building across Drexler Drive. But the growing fire district wanted more space and paid about $1 million to buy out the city’s stake in the building.
The city then paid $725,000 to renovate 5,000 square feet in the civic building’s second floor to accommodate the police station.
A Pierce County library branch opened in the Town Center property along Bridgeport Way in February. City Hall will move there eventually. There are no retail tenants yet.
On Thursday, one deputy jokingly described the police department’s spacious workroom as the “hard-to-workroom” as he unpacked. Broken-down cardboard boxes littered the floor, and many items needed to be stored.
Police Chief Rusty Wilder said the new station offers more space and a sizable conference room, which officers had to share with firefighters in the other building.
“It’s a pretty nice space,” Police Chief Rusty Wilder said. “We’re very, very pleased.”
City officials had wanted to put the police station in a 6,000-square-foot space next to the library on the building’s ground floor, but construction bids came in too high.
The city could pursue that project in the future, prompting yet another move. Officials would like to lease part of the second floor as office space, City Manager Steve Sugg said, and he expects potential tenants will emerge once the market recovers.
“We got improvements up there that are transferable, that won’t need to be torn out, that make an excellent office space,” he said.
Wilder and Sugg said the department’s arrival is a nice addition to the civic building, and its proximity to the library will promote interaction between residents and law enforcement.
The department’s hours will open an hour later – 10 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. — to coincide with library hours, Wilder said. The department closes at 4 p.m. weekdays.
Its new address is 3609 Market Place West, No. 201.
The city contracts with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department to provide a total of 12 deputies to patrol and respond to calls in the city.
Wilder said residents will be able to check out the new station during an open house. The event hasn’t been scheduled yet but will likely occur in January.
Christian Hill: 253-274-7390
christian.hill@thenewstribune.com
Twitter: @TNTchill
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