Consultants say Evanston’s police and fire headquarters is functionally undersized; relocation options under study

Consultants working on Evanston’s Putting Assets to Work grant told attendees that the city’s existing police and fire headquarters is functionally inadequate for modern operations and that the team is assessing whether to renovate on site, rebuild or relocate.

"Your current police and fire headquarters is woefully inadequate for 21st‑century police and fire operations," said Ryan Porter of Impact Collective, summarizing interviews and spreadsheets the team compiled from department input about must‑have space, circulation and operational needs.

Porter and the team described detailed work by a subcontractor, Cordigan Clark, which is performing property‑condition and systems assessments and aggregating department requirements such as square‑footage needs, training‑range ventilation, sallyport configuration and locker‑room capacity. "Even if we cut their must‑haves by 20 percent, the building is still only 60 percent of the size it needs to be," Porter said.

The team is exploring multiple tracks: rebuilding on the existing site with temporary relocations, constructing a new facility at an alternate site, or consolidating some functions elsewhere. Consultants said the Kingsley School site is an early example raised on the project website and that police and fire chiefs found that location attractive in preliminary conversations because it provides more space and access without being in a tight residential block.

Organizers cautioned the public that condition reports and preliminary feasibility work are still pending: Cordigan Clark’s inspections are underway and the team expects initial findings in advance of the May 27 civic‑center tour with a fuller written assessment in June. Any implementation would proceed through City Council decisions and the usual land‑use and zoning process.

Residents asked whether the departments expect near‑term personnel growth tied to increasing population; consultants said there is not a plan for large, immediate staff increases but that some growth and flexible space would be prudent. The consultants also noted temporary relocation logistics would require agreements on holding‑cells and interagency coordination.

The team urged continued public engagement and said the technical work is paid for by the federal grant.