Council to vote on $135M police headquarters plan

The City of Winnipeg has made a $30-million conditional offer on a downtown building to house police headquarters, and is budgeting another $105 million to renovate the location if council approves the plan.

Officials released details of the plan to purchase the Canada Post sorting plant, located at 266 Graham Ave., on Friday.

The Winnipeg Police Service has said its current location is too small, and would need extensive repairs.

"A downtown location would allow us to increase our visible presence on the streets," police Chief Keith McCaskill said in March when negotiations for the Canada Post building were announced.

On Friday, city officials said refurbishing the Canada Post building would be more cost-effective than building a new station or renovating the current location.

Renovations to the Graham Avenue space would not be completed until mid 2013.

The city cited a number of benefits to the plan including:

• A greater police presence downtown.
• Consolidation of police work at a single location.
• Easier access to the Law Courts complex.
• Room for expansion.

Officials said once a move is completed, the Public Safety Building at 151 Princess St. should be designated as surplus.

City council will consider the recommendations at an meeting of the executive policy committee on Nov. 18.