Lakewood officials begin fact-finding on plan to move administration to 1470 Warren and expand police space

Lakewood City Council on June 16 opened a fact-finding discussion on a proposal from city administration to relocate most administrative offices to 1470 Warren Road and convert the existing City Hall into a justice center housing expanded police and court facilities.

The proposal, presented by Director Byington and police leaders, is driven by long‑standing space shortages in the Lakewood Police Department, an inadequately sized women’s locker room and cramped detective workspaces, officials said. “The space provided to Lakewood police is woefully behind what is considered even basic in the industry,” Director Byington told the council.

Why it matters: Council members said they share the stated objectives — equity for female officers, ADA accessibility, improved customer service and safe workspaces — but repeatedly pressed the administration for detailed cost, financing and timing information before considering a property purchase. No legislation or purchase was on the table at the meeting; council did vote to enter an executive session to discuss purchase terms for property under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22.

What the presentation showed: The administration reported several high‑level options developed with consultant Webber Murphy Fox: - Renovate the existing City Hall and add an east addition: estimated at just over $17,000,000 but would add only about 2,774 square feet to police space and require roughly 12 months of partial relocation. - Infill and garage reconstruction (in‑place renovation plus parking garage reuse): estimated at just over $27,000,000; this approach would require shutting down the jail for an extended period and would raise transport costs for inmates, estimated at $110 per inmate per day. - Off‑site new construction: estimated at about $500 per square foot (hard cost only); administration said central, appropriately sized land is not available and new construction is less sustainable than reuse. - Off‑site renovation of an existing building: estimated at about $250 per square foot (hard cost only) and would reduce the need to shut down jail operations during construction but would add acquisition cost.

The administration said that a space‑fit analysis for the chosen building would gain roughly 12,874 square feet for police operations (about a 55% increase) and about 1,483 square feet for court functions. Webber Murphy Fox recommended seeking a building of roughly 28,000 square feet to relocate administration and unify separated divisions such as finance currently located at the annex.

Why 1470 Warren: Director Byington told the council the vacant building at 1470 Warren Road meets several stated criteria: central location, walk/bike/transit access, proximity to commercial corridors and potential to provide adaptive‑reuse historic preservation benefits. The administration recommended consideration of acquiring that property to free space at the current City Hall for police and court expansion.

Council questions and concerns: Council members pressed for a full accounting of total project costs (acquisition, renovation, moving, phased construction and operating impacts), likely funding sources and effects on other capital priorities. Councilman Bullock asked for a rigorous due‑diligence framework: “If we were to choose to commit as a city government this large amount of resources, what would the effect be on the city's various other capital and operating funds?” Other members asked for examples from peer cities, comparisons of renovation vs. new construction, and clearer timing and phasing details.

Police testimony: Police leadership and Detective Ariana Zook described operational impacts of current space constraints and the importance of adequate locker and shower facilities for female officers. “It’s just unacceptable,” Detective Zook said about current privacy and locker arrangements, and she credited improved facilities as an effective recruiting and retention tool.

Next steps and executive session: Council did not vote to buy property or approve a plan at the meeting. The body voted to enter executive session under Ohio Revised Code Section 121.22 to discuss the possible purchase of property for public purposes; a roll call showed unanimous support to proceed into the closed session. The Committee of the Whole report will return to full council for any future actions.

Context: Officials said construction and materials costs have risen significantly since the 2023 estimates that informed earlier planning, and that adaptive reuse of existing buildings can reduce hard‑cost per square foot compared with new builds. The administration emphasized the proposal is an early step in an extensive financial and public‑engagement review rather than a finalized plan.

What remains unresolved: total project price, financing strategy (bonds, reserves, grants or other mechanisms), exact office moves (which departments would relocate, which would be dual‑site), potential impact on downtown redevelopment incentives linked to 1470 Warren and a public engagement plan. Council members asked administration to return with more detailed financial packets, peer examples, phased cost estimates and clearer explanations of operational impacts and timelines.