The City of Akron is weighing whether to renovate the Akron Police Department headquarters in the aging downtown Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center or to move the police to a different or new building.
Mayor Shammas Malik announced today that the city issued a request for proposals to property owners and developers to submit information on potential new sites for the APD and also a request for qualifications from architectural and engineering firms to analyze the sites that the city identifies as candidates for the headquarters.
“I’ve been very upfront about the need to decide the future of our Akron Police Department headquarters,” Malik said in a statement. “In our 100 Day Plan, I’ve committed to determining the future of those headquarters by the end of June 2024. Issuing today’s RFP and RFQ is the next step in the process in deciding whether we ultimately renovate the current structure and stay in the Harold K. Stubbs Building or whether we pursue a new permanent home for our Akron Police Department elsewhere.”
58-year-old building is in disrepair
The nine-story City-County Safety Building was built in 1966 and was renamed in 1991 for Harold K. Stubbs, a former Akron judge, law director, and City Council member. It’s since fallen into disrepair. The Akron Municipal Court moved out of the building and into the nearby Oliver Ocasek building several months ago.
In the recently passed capital budget, the city is allocating $220,000 for upgrades to the Stubbs Justice Center.
RFP sets scope of potential new buidling, location
In its RFP for new sites, the city states:
The City of Akron is considering relocating the Akron Police Department Headquarters at 217 S. High Street, Akron, Ohio, to a new permanent location in either a new facility on an undeveloped site, a previously developed site cleared of any existing buildings and structures, or an existing building to be renovated to meet the needs of the Akron Police Department. Potential sites will be considered based on size, location, accessibility, community impact, and cost. The submittals will be carefully reviewed and will assist the City of Akron in reaching a conclusion as to the best, most effective, cost-efficient solution and location for the new Akron Police Department Headquarters. The City of Akron will accept proposals detailing site information from property owners, developers, and/or their broker/agent representatives wishing to submit sale/development properties for the City’s consideration.
In its RFQ, the city states:
The City of Akron, Ohio, is seeking qualifications from Architectural/Engineering firms to conduct a site analysis for a variety of sites for the potential relocation of the Akron Police Department Headquarters. Sites will include City owned properties as well as privately owned sites. Sites may include open/green space or contain an existing structure to be renovated. The goal of this project is to determine a site deemed to be most advantageous to the Department of Public Safety, The City, and its citizens for the location of the Akron Police Department Headquarters.
RFQs for the feasibility study are due by 4:30 p.m. March 25. RFPs are due by 4:30 p.m. April 4.