Columbus broke ground on a new police substation Tuesday in the Hilltop neighborhood that was originally slated to open two years ago.
City leaders now expect the two-story, 13,500-square-foot facility at 1860 Sullivant Ave. to open in Nov. 2026 and cost a total of $13.9 million. Construction will begin this month by professional contractors after the ceremonial moving of dirt by city officials.
The new substation will be nearly seven times larger than the current facility. It will have expanded parking and office spaces for up to 84 police officers and dedicated space for detectives like interview rooms.
Mayor Andrew Ginther pointed out at the groundbreaking ceremony that violent crime is down in Columbus. The city reported 54 homicides so far this year on Monday, compared to an average of over 109 homicides for the previous five years by early September.
Ginther said the station's 1,500 square foot community room will help improve citizens' relationships with police and drive down crime even more.
"The Hilltop deserves this. This is a commitment to community safety, trust and engagement. The city investment that reflects our belief in the future of the Hilltop," Ginther said.
Columbus Division of Police Chief Elaine Bryant said the old substation down the road wasn't built to foster the relationship between Hilltop residents and the police.
"Having a community area that will belong to our neighbors, as much as it belongs to our officers, will foster connection and shared responsibility. This is a space where dialog between community and police can thrive," Bryant said.
Officials said the room could be used as a meeting space and community resource.
Ginther said the project was delayed because taking control of the land was complicated and officials wanted more community input.
