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Council briefed on $185 million UNT Dallas police academy plan; funding gap and delivery accountability remain
Summary
City staff presented schematic designs for a 23-acre police academy at the UNT Dallas campus with an estimated cost of $185 million. Fundraisers reported about $96.5 million available for initial phases, private commitments and pledges are in progress, and council members pressed for a program manager and clearer timeline amid a one-year slippage from earlier targets.
City staff and fundraisers on Dec. 8 updated the Public Safety Committee on schematic design and financing for a proposed police academy to be built on a roughly 23‑acre parcel at the UNT Dallas campus.
Jenny Niswander, director of the Office of Bond and Construction Management, presented schematic designs that increase classroom and training space and include a criminal-justice building, an in-service academy, a physical training pavilion and a basic academy. "We did work very closely with DPD to identify their needs," Niswander said, and noted the schematic level allows for tweaks as design proceeds.
Staff reported an estimated project cost of $185,000,000. Presenters said approximately $96.5 million will be available for initial components (cadet training and the physical training pavilion) and that $11.5 million in private commitments have been identified (commitments that staff said are not immediately drawable until project milestones and timelines are finalized). Staff also described other private commitments and a potential additional $6.5 million under consideration; earlier planning had anticipated much larger private fundraising toward a $70 million target as part of the overall financing strategy.
Council members pressed for clearer accountability, a named program manager/owner's representative and a firm timeline. Several members noted that earlier schedules (cited as construction beginning June 2026 and opening in March 2027 in a past agenda) have slipped and that program management needs to be in place sooner than currently planned. Staff said procurement for an owner's representative is underway and is expected to be brought to Council around February.
Fundraising staff said $10 million in CFT funds are in hand and available. Fundraisers and staff described a staged funding approach tied to project timelines and to the procurement of a construction manager at-risk (CMAR). Council members urged that executive staff (city manager level) take project ownership and provide a single point of accountability for schedule and budget.
Next steps: staff will return with an update in February, pursue an owner's-representative procurement, finalize CMAR contract timing and continue fundraising and community engagement.
