Aurora
August 08, 2008 04:05 PM
By: Joe Fantauzzi, Staff Writer
York Region’s police chief is hopeful the construction of a building in Aurora that would house the investigative and support services units will begin this winter.
According to Chief Armand La Barge, the building’s construction costs are estimated at approximately $68 million while other costs, for items including land, permits and security are estimated at approximately $13 million, resulting in an estimated total cost of about $80 million.
York Regional Police are planning to submit a site application for the proposed 237,000-square-foot building, which is to be off Leslie Street south of Aurora Road, in the coming weeks, Chief La Barge said.
He is hoping the building will be occupied by officers working in units such as homicide, traffic, sexual assault, forensic identification, canine, air support and emergency response by 2010, he added.
A new forensic lab, that can easily accommodate all procedures, will be constructed in the building, he said.
“It’s a big building but it has to take in 430 staff members,” Chief La Barge said. Future staff growth has been accounted for in the building, which will be built to LEED silver environmental standards, he added.
Chief La Barge has said the force has been leasing space in four locations around the region for years.
York police have enlisted Parkin Architects Ltd. to design the facility, according to Chief La Barge. Parkin previously designed the 2 District police station in Richmond Hill.
A service point for the public is also in the works for the facility, but the plans for that have not yet been finalized, he said.