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Public Safety Complex

By Jeffrey B. Cohen

May 20, 2009

Mayor Eddie A. Perez held a press conference this morning to tout an additional $750,000 in federal funding for the city's planned $85 million public safety complex -- a project Police Chief Daryl K. Roberts last week called "critical."

The complex, anchored by the old board of education building on High Street, will be the new home of the city's police, fire and emergency services divisions. Demolition began last month.

The city is applying for, but has not yet received, federal stimulus money for the project. The press release is below.

---NEWS RELEASE---

(May 20, 2009) --- Wow! What a difference a few months make! That's the common reaction to the progress that has been made as Hartford builds its state-of-the-art Public Safety Complex. Dedicated federal funds are flowing in, jobs are being created, and buildings are coming down to make way for the new home for Hartford police, fire, and emergency services.

"High Street is 'the street' that connects all the progress we have made so far regarding economic development," says Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez. "It ties together the renaissance north of I-84--- new businesses, new schools, and new streetscapes ---all connecting the Downtown, Clay Arsenal, and Upper Albany neighborhoods through public safety, job creation, energy savings, historical preservation and economic stimulus."

Mayor Eddie A. Perez held a news conference today to announce an additional $750,000 in federal funding designated for the new complex. This is on top of the $3.6 million in COPS grants that has already been designated. The City of Hartford is also applying for stimulus dollars for this "shovel-ready" project that is the flagship piece of the "Hartford Now" proposal announced last December. This media event is also the latest in a series of construction site visits that promote job creation as a way to better position Hartford for growth once the nation emerges from this recession.

"The public safety complex construction project creates 800 jobs. That's good news for minority and small businesses and good news for Hartford residents," said the Mayor.

As work is being done to make way for the new complex, a portion of history is being preserved as Hartford forges ahead into the future. The 35,000 square foot registered historical school house, built in 1891 will remain and, along with the new addition to the building, will be made energy efficient because it will be fuel-cell powered. The complex will be built to LEED silver standards, with an emphasis on utilizing existing materials and incorporation of new green products and green construction methods.

The total cost of the Public Safety Complex is $85 million and construction is slated to be complete in April of 2011.