Councillor concerned with price tag for new Halifax police headquarters

The possible price tag of the new Halifax police headquarters was discussed at a committee meeting.

A Winnipeg firm is still studying three potential sites for the Halifax Regional Police’s new headquarters and the estimated price tag of $180 million is concerning one councillor.

“The more time we take to get a shovel to the ground, the more that price tag goes up,” said Tony Mancini, councillor for Dartmouth East-Burnside. “We need to look at ways to knock that $180 million down. I think that’s really what our job is.

“How do we do that? How do we still provide the capital project that’s needed, but really look at costs heavily?”

A drafted needs assessment for the project is due later this month. It has already been approved for $1.7 million.

The current Gottingen Street police headquarters was built in 1975. That spot is being considered for the new building, along with locations in Cowie Hill and Burnside.

“The simple reality is, for the sake of public safety and the people that work there and the people that we serve, a new headquarters is not a nicety. It’s a necessity,” said Halifax Police Chief Don MacLean.

Mancini has suggested the project seek funding from other levels of government and potentially sharing training spaces with other first responders.

“We need it all done,” he said. “But the bank account is only so full.”

The design work on the new headquarters could begin in 2030.

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