Chapel Hill police may have to rent space while they wait for much-needed new building

After years of concerns about environmental waste and space limitations, the Chapel Hill Police Department is considering a temporary move while they wait for the town to fund a new headquarters.

On Wednesday night, the Chapel Hill Town Council is set to consider the possibility of moving the police department from 828 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The current police building is deteriorating and not meeting the department’s needs.

Chapel Hill Town Manager Chris Blue is recommending the police department lease space while a permanent plan is made.

Town leaders are expected to consider renting the former site of Blue Cross Blue Shield at 1830 Fordham Blvd. The lease would cost about $1.5 million.

“The space meets the department's needs and we recommend moving forward with a lease,” an agenda document states. “Leasing space will have a smaller cost impact on the Town's Debt Service Fund than financing construction for a new Municipal Services Center and it solves the most critical need, the Police Department.”

The Chapel Hill Town Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday.

For years, WRAL News has reported on the issues with the current police headquarters. There are environmental concerns with building because coal ash is buried there.

The town is still working through plans to remove the ash and then ultimately building a new municipal services center in its place to include a new police headquarters.

Here’s a look at the options town leaders will consider:

• Municipal services center original cost estimate: $34 million to borrow, $2.5 million average annual debt service
• Municipal services center revised cost estimate: $82 million borrowing, $6 million average annual debt service
• Police department only cost estimate: $47 million borrowing, $3.4 million average annual debt service
• Police department only lease estimate: N/A borrowing, $1.5 million average annual debt service

The agenda item is set for a discussion on Wednesday, not a vote.

If town leaders ultimately give the ok, the move wouldn't happen immediately. Town staff thinks it would take about a year.