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Peoria council authorizes purchase agreement for warehouse to house police evidence, training and impound operations
Summary
Council authorized the city manager to negotiate purchase of an 81,000‑square‑foot facility at 10857 N. 90th Ave. for up to $11 million and approved a $2 million budget shift to accelerate the project into FY25; staff said the purchase would advance four CIP projects and could save roughly $18 million versus separate new construction.
The Peoria City Council on Oct. 15 authorized staff to move forward with a purchase agreement for an 81,000‑square‑foot facility near 90th Avenue and conveyed council approval to advance $2 million from FY26 into FY25 to accelerate the project (agenda item 29R). The council’s preliminary authorization capped the offer price at $11 million and passed on the council floor; the city will still complete an appraisal and finalize purchase negotiations before closing.
Deputy City Manager Travis Cutright said staff found the property on the market and recommended acquisition rather than building multiple separate facilities. City staff and police leaders presented four capital projects the building could accommodate with interior build‑out: an evidence facility (previously budgeted across FY25–26), an impound vehicle forensics building (previously FY28), an impounded vehicle evidence storage yard (FY25–26), and part of a previously funded regional training investment (simulation/shoot house/component buy‑in). Together, those CIP entries totaled about $35.6 million; staff estimated acquiring and outfitting the existing building could consolidate the needs and save roughly $18 million compared with building each item separately.
The property identified in staff materials is 10857 North 90 Fifth Avenue (about 81,000 square feet on roughly 3 acres). The owner’s asking price is $11 million; staff said an appraisal was underway and the appraiser was scheduled to be on site the day after the council meeting. Council approved an authorization to negotiate and proceed up to the stated not‑to‑exceed price. The council also approved a budget amendment to transfer $2 million from the FY26 CIP into FY25 to allow the purchase process to proceed while staff finalizes negotiated terms.
Police Chief Thomas Centriari described current evidence and vehicle storage constraints. The department’s existing evidence yard at the MOC is about a half‑acre and is operating over capacity; Centriari said the new site would provide roughly 3 acres for secure vehicle and evidence storage and allow the MOC space to return to other uses. He added that some evidence must be preserved for statutory periods and that indoor processing and protected storage preserve forensic value and asset life for specialized vehicles such as mobile command vehicles and SWAT equipment.
Cutright and Chief Centriari told council staff recommended the acquisition because the facility’s size and configuration matched multiple needs and because market availability for suitable commercial/warehouse space south of Peoria remains limited. Cutright estimated the city would spend an additional $6–7 million to outfit the interior for the four projects, putting total near‑term cost into the building at about $18 million if the higher build‑out estimate is used.
Council asked staff to proceed with negotiation and appraisal, and to return with finalized purchase documents and the appraisal results prior to closing. The council unanimously approved the motion and the related FY25 budget transfer.
