After months of consideration, Mayor Shammas Malik’s office is homing in on a decision about the future headquarters of the Akron Police Department. 

With the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center in need of significant updates, the City of Akron sent out requests for proposals in April for potential sites to build a new building or renovate an existing one into the next police department headquarters. 

The city received 23 proposals before trimming the list to 10 options in April. Malik said he’d make a decision in June. 

While the final decision has not yet been made, Malik’s office announced on Monday that the police department will either stay put in a potentially renovated Stubbs building or move to one of two nearby spots.

The finalist locations, according to a statement from the City of Akron, are:

Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center at 217 S. High St.

“This 144,000 square foot building was constructed in 1966 and previously housed the Akron Municipal Court, prosecutor’s office, and other offices until their relocation to the Ocasek Building in 2023. Significant renovation would be required to accommodate the current needs of the Akron Police Department.”

The City of Akron is considering the building at 80 W. Bowery St., shown at left, as one of three possible sites for a new Akron Police Department headquarters.
The City of Akron is considering the building at 80 W. Bowery St., shown at left, as one of three possible sites for a new Akron Police Department headquarters. The 117,000 square foot building was originally designed and constructed in 1950 for retail use and is owned by Akron Children’s Hospital. (Susan Zake / Signal Akron)

80 W. Bowery St.

“This 117,000 square foot building was originally designed and constructed in 1950 for retail use and is owned by Akron Children’s Hospital. The current building has recently been prepared for renovation, providing a clean slate for development.”

The former Wonder Bread building on the University of Akron campus.
The former Wonder Bread building, located at 178 S. Forge St., was demolished by ProQuality Demolition of Youngstown on Jan. 21, 2024. The now-cleared site is being considered as one of three locations for the Akron Police Department’s headquarters building. Credit: (Kassi Filkins / Signal Akron)

178 S. Forge St.

“This site, submitted by the University of Akron, previously contained a Wonder Bread bakery and offices. That building has been demolished, meaning that, if chosen, the city would construct the station as a new building according to chosen specifications.”

Malik said in the statement, “I believe we have identified potential options for the future of our police station, and I look forward to engaging with our community and stakeholders over the next several months as we make a final decision and determine the necessary financing.” 

Police Chief Brian Harding said that figuring out the future of the police headquarters is necessary to work on community policing, recruiting and retaining officers, and preventing violence.

“We look forward to a station that our team is proud of as well as a space that is welcoming for our community,” Harding said. “I’m excited for the future of our department and our station.”

Government Reporter (he/him)
Doug Brown covers all things connected to the government in the city. He strives to hold elected officials and other powerful figures accountable to the community through easily digestible stories about complex issues. Prior to joining Signal Akron, Doug was a communications staffer at the ACLU of Oregon, news reporter for the Portland Mercury, staff writer for Cleveland Scene, and writer for Deadspin.com, among other roles. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hiram College and a master’s degree in journalism from Kent State University.