Mayor seeks council review of plan to buy former Board of Education site at 1470 Warren Road

Mayor George presented a communication and accompanying resolution asking council to authorize purchase of the South Building at the former Lakewood Board of Education site, 1470 Warren Road, and to appropriate $1.5 million from the city's land acquisition fund for the purchase.

Why it matters: the administration said acquiring 1470 Warren Road would address long‑standing space shortages at the 1958 city hall, allow expansion of police and court operations, consolidate administrative departments, and improve public access. The administration requested council refer the purchase agreement and appropriations to committee and said it anticipated completing a transaction no later than Sept. 5, 2025.

Council responses and concerns: several council members and the council president said they support finding a long‑term solution for cramped city staff space but raised concerns about process and timing. Council President Keppel and Councilman Evans said council had previously requested more comparative data on alternatives (additions to the existing building, infilling the rear U, use of the annex, temporary solutions) and that the administration had not returned the requested unbiased, apples‑to‑apples analysis before presenting the purchase documents. Council members also noted the risk that the property could be sold to a private developer if the city did not secure it before the administration's deadline.

Mayor George said the administration had reached out multiple times to council members to answer questions, that the building could be taken by private developers, and that staff offered to meet with council members. The mayor said the administration had followed prior steps, including a space study and architect/consultant work, and urged council to work with the administration on a timetable. The mayor also noted that even with acquisition, work would take 18 months or more before space was ready for staff.

Action taken: council voted to refer the administration’s purchase communication and related resolution to the Committee of the Whole for further review; the resolution authorizing a purchase agreement was similarly referred. Council members said independent review and more thorough written answers to previously requested questions are necessary before making a final determination. The administration said it would provide more detailed material to committee members and is willing to meet with council to answer questions.

Clarifying details noted in the discussion: the administration said the proposed purchase price is $1,500,000 and that the city planned to fund the purchase from the land acquisition fund. The mayor and director of planning said any final purchase would include due diligence and that the letter of intent (LOI) executed with Liberty Development was nonbinding but would provide time for analysis. Council members asked the administration to explore interim relief for the police department (portable locker rooms or temporary off‑site office space) to address immediate staff needs while the long‑term solution is evaluated.

Next steps: the purchase resolution and accompanying appropriations will be discussed in Committee of the Whole, with the law department and administration asked to provide detailed comparative analysis, cost estimates, and schedules. Council members flagged the Sept. 5 timing the administration referenced and said they would need time to complete independent vetting and public hearings before any final vote.