Mayor Martin Advocates For Demolition Of Old Police HQ

STAMFORD, CT — During a presentation before the Board of Representatives' Operations Committee last week, Mayor David Martin advocated for the demolition of the old Stamford Police Headquarters while keeping the property for future use.

Several years ago, there was known led contamination in the plumbing within the building. In the summer of 2014, asbestos contamination was exposed when the city was doing HVAC work. That summer, Martin mandated that no work could be done above the ceiling or in any way that would risk exposure.

Indoor air quality was continuously monitored, and the city began seeking alternatives as remediation wasn't appealing.

A new police station next door was built, and officers began to move-in in June of 2019; the old building was essentially shut down. In January of this year, Stamford obtained demolition bids and an environmental monitoring Request For Proposal (RFP).

Last week, Martin outlined several choices for the building and property:

• Remediation with the intention of keeping the building or selling it
• Leave the building as-is to keep or sell
• Demolish the building and sell the property to a potential developer, or keep the property for future city use.

"We feel strongly that building remediation is a very poor choice. We think 'as-is' is not a good choice, either selling or keeping, and so we believe we should demolish the building. I want to keep that property because I consider it strategic, important property," Martin said. "In the short run, we don't have any current plans to utilize that property. But I believe in some future date it would make sense."

The idea for an all-encompassing emergency center with 911 dispatch, EMS, and the fire department has been brought up in the past. Martin said he wanted a consolidated facility before it was decided a new police station would be built. But that option would require much more analysis going forward.

Right now, demolition is expected to cost $1 million with Stamford Wrecking. According to Cushman & Wakefield, the market value of the building/property as-is is $1.175 million. With interior remediation, the value was assessed at $1.7 million. If demolished, depending on if the property is zoned at 40 units or 80 units per acre, the value would be $2.175 million and $4.475 million respectively.

The Operations Committee voted five in favor with four abstentions on an agreement between the City of Stamford and Eagle Environmental, Inc. for Hazardous Material Monitoring & Inspection for the Old Police Station demolition.

The full Board of Representatives still needs to weigh-in on the matter.

"Although I believe this is the right option, the Board of Representatives might say, 'Hey, we'd rather sell the property.' Even if you sell it, I still say it should be demolished. Let's be done with this issue, get it over with, and keep that property for future use," Martin said last week.

Martin said the process to go about selling property could take 10 months.

According to the Stamford Advocate, a public hearing will be held in the future to discuss the future of the property.

To read more from the Stamford Advocate on the old police station, click here.