Politics & Government

Architectural Study Envisions Police, Court and Village Hall Under One Roof in Downtown

A Manhattan-based architectural firm offers several alternatives to fit Port Chester's municipal needs for the next 20 years.

With its key location at the corners of Boston Post Road, Main and Grace Church Streets, the glass-faced office building at One Gateway Plaza would be the best choice for a united police, court and village hall facility, according to a year-long study by an architectural firm.

The study was commissioned in 2009, when planners from Manhattan-based JCJ Architecture sat down with Port Chester officials and started working on a plan. They toured the relatively modern village hall, as well as the combined police station and court at 350 North Main St.

The police station, which is crammed with the courthouse into an aging building on the periphery of town, has long been the source of complaints–parts of the building resemble a dungeon, officers often joke, and areas like break rooms, dispatch and the public lobby are too small for the needs of a busy department.

In addition, patrol officers have to contend with a limited parking area and a tiny driveway leading to North Main Street.

JCJ Architecture looked at three main considerations:

- Cost: The architects offered several options, ranging from costly rehauls of current buildings, limited modifications to potential sites, and entirely new buildings on the village hall property.
- Requirements: Whether the village settles on construction, renovations or buying a new building, the firm looked at the minimum space requirements for the police department and court facilities. Architects also considered future expansion and space needs.
- Lifespan: Any solution would have to meet the needs of the police department, courts and village hall for the next 10 to 20 years.

The study recommends One Gateway Plaza because it has "the best location, the best access and the best potential for meeting program requirements at the lowest cost."

The architectural firm suggests purchasing property across the street for a parking lot or a two-story parking deck, as well as renovations to the building to maximize floor space, create another entrance, and reconfigure the interior layout so it's more appropriate for facilities that will regularly deal with the public.

If the village chooses to go with the primary option recommended by the architects, then the police department, courts and village hall would all operate under the same roof at One Gateway Plaza. The existing police and court facility at 350 North Main Street would be sold, and the current village hall at 222 Grace Church Street could be converted to senior housing to go along with the adjacent senior center behind village hall.

Click the .pdf file at the top right to view the full study, along with architectural drawings and alternate plans for each of the sites.

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