Miami’s aging police headquarters is long overdue for a replacement as city officials grapple with potential relocation sites.
During a recent commission meeting on October 9, concerns over traffic and accessibility at the proposed Miami Freedom Park site complicated discussions about moving the department’s headquarters, which has suffered significant structural problems since its construction in 1975.
The current police headquarters, located at 400 NW Second Ave., has faced severe issues, including flooding, corroded pipes, and sinkholes in its parking lot.
Commissioner Ralph Rosado, who initiated the agenda item, emphasized that the deteriorating state of the building necessitates a decisive action.
Two primary locations have emerged for the new headquarters: a combined public safety complex at Miami Freedom Park near Northwest 37th Avenue and a downtown site near Biscayne Bay, which may be susceptible to flooding.
While Miami Freedom Park appears to be the more feasible option, traffic concerns have been voiced by various commissioners.
Commissioner Miguel Gabela, representing the district that includes the park, expressed his support for a new location but requested responsible traffic management assurances.
“I’m pro-police… no question about that,” Gabela stated.
“But I have residents west of 37th Avenue that have a lot of concerns, because of the traffic at the Freedom Park. It’s basically going to be a small city.
“You’re going to have also that city center there, parks, restaurants. Then add to that we got the MRC building, which is coming there,” he added, referring to the relocation of the city’s administrative complex to the site.
Commissioner Christine King echoed these concerns, highlighting that Freedom Park is situated in a peaceful residential area.
“The traffic will be a nightmare,” King warned.
“Staff should already be working on how the traffic is going to flow into this community.”
Conversely, Commissioner Joe Carollo criticized the idea of moving the headquarters to Freedom Park, deeming it impractical due to congestion issues during soccer matches and large events.
Carollo proposed an alternative to rebuild at the current downtown location, suggesting the possibility of demolishing the existing parking garage to construct a multi-story facility in phases, thereby minimizing disruption to police operations.
“The present location is a usable location,” he stated, outlining the construction plan that would allow for incremental updates while maintaining departmental functionality.
“You’re still in a centrally located area for this whole city where the police department has been for decades.”
City Manager Art Noriega acknowledged that staff could evaluate the feasibility of rebuilding at the current site.
However, he noted that this option had been dismissed initially due to financial and logistical challenges.
“There are two key factors to why that site wasn’t considered,” Noriega explained.
“One was, part of the opportunity here to offset the cost of the new public safety building is the repurposing and disposition of both the fire headquarters and the police headquarters.
The site we’re using in Miami Freedom Park won’t be used for anything else… it isn’t intended for any other commercial use or to be repurposed in any way, so there’s a monetary benefit to doing that.”
Noriega continued, highlighting the logistical advantages of the Freedom Park site.
“The footprint that exists now in and of itself is not big enough to house a building at the size and scale because we’re combining two departments into one building.”
He also pointed out, “From a construction perspective, the footprint we’re using in Miami Freedom Park is bigger and wider; you don’t have to go as high, so it’s a little more cost-effective.”
Police Chief Manny Morales emphasized the urgency of the situation, describing the current building as being in “horrible condition.”
He further mentioned that officers might soon need to utilize outdoor trailers for showers due to plumbing problems.
“Regardless of the location chosen, we’ll ensure our presence there does not compromise our ability to protect the community,” Morales assured.
“We are in dire need… all our three stations are in horrible condition.”
Commissioner Rosado pressed the need for swift action, calling for an end to the city’s history of deferred maintenance on major public assets.
“We need to have a date certain for when we come back to discuss this and to make a final decision,” Rosado remarked.
City officials have tasked staff with narrowing down the main site options and conducting further analysis.
Noriega confirmed that the administration would return in November with a feasibility study that assesses costs, logistics, neighborhood impacts, and traffic conditions before a final decision is rendered.
As discussions continue, the future of Miami’s police headquarters hangs in the balance, with city officials aiming to find a solution that meets both the needs of the department and the concerns of the community.
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