Committee: Put old Westport police station out of its misery

By Bruce Burdett
Posted 11/22/18

Their verdict on possible future uses for the empty former Westport police station?

There are none. It’s likely best that it be torn down.

That was the report from Donald Davidson, chairman …

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Committee: Put old Westport police station out of its misery

Posted

Their verdict on possible future uses for the empty former Westport police station?

There are none. It’s likely best that it be torn down.

That was the report from Donald Davidson, chairman of the Long-term Building Evaluation Committee delivered to the Board of Selectmen last week.

His committee took a tour, from moldy basement up to failed roof, considered every use they and others could think of, and there’s no escaping the conclusion that no good second career exists for the police station in Central Village.

The study began after the decision was made to abandon the outdated station and build a new one next door to the fire station on Hixbridge Road. That new building is now finished and police recently moved in.

Mr. Donaldson listed some of the “major problems identified.”

Poor roof design, he said, caused water to leak down to the basement which led to “significant mold problems.”

That moisture and mold ruined police records and equipment, forced officers to move out of offices and defied efforts to eliminate it since the roof kept springing leaks.

Mr. Donaldson called it cost-prohibitive to upgrade the 1970 building — “the mold problem will never go away and there is a stigma around town as to it being an unhealthy building.”

The building has its own septic system, he said, but that system is now 40 years old.

The station shares a well with Town Hall but if a private buyer wished to dig his/her own well for the one-time station, the lot is probably not big enough.

Committee members were aware, he said, that there are some town employees and groups that need space, “but I think we will continue to look for space” elsewhere.

“We recommend no further use for the station and to dispose of it by demolition,” Mr. Donaldson concluded. “The town does not need the burden of any additional facilities.”

Perhaps the space could be used for additional Town Hall parking, he added.

Selectmen did not dispute the findings.

“That’s why we needed a new police station,” said Steven Ouellette.

“We’ve come to the conclusion seven or eight times already that this is not a building worth saving,” added Brian Valcourt.

The board assigned Town Administrator Tim King the task of seeking cost estimates for demolition. Once those estimates are in, selectmen said they can then decide on the best course of action.

Mr. Donaldson and Mr. King said it is unlikely that the building, having been built in the 1970, contains much in the way of hazardous materials, but that will have to be determined.

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