METRO SELECTS SITE FOR NEW WEST POLICE PRECINCT AND DNA LAB
Legislation filed to acquire property on Charlotte
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (September 29, 2009) -
Mayor Karl Dean announced today that legislation has been filed to acquire property on Charlotte Avenue for a new West Police Precinct and Metro’s first DNA Crime Lab.
Both projects are part of the administration’s capital spending plan passed by the Metro Council earlier this year. The property selected is a former Ford dealership on 6-acres of land at 5500 Charlotte Ave., near the intersection of White Bridge Road.
“This location is highly accessible and provides ample room for both an expanded West Precinct and a new state-of-the-art DNA lab,” Dean said. “The DNA lab will allow us to identify and arrest more criminals, faster, making our city that much safer. And the new West Precinct will provide space for the public to meet and gather – connecting that community to our police department, something we know improves public safety.”
The current West Precinct is the city’s oldest and smallest precinct facility at approximately 4,000 square feet in size. The newer facilities serving North, South, Hermitage and East Nashville have approximately 20,000 square feet of space, including community meeting rooms.
“This critical project not only replaces a woefully inadequate precinct building, but also brings cutting edge technology to our police department so that we can solve even more crime through science,” Police Chief Ronal Serpas said. “This land acquisition and renovation is a win-win for West Nashville's neighborhoods and the overall safety of our city. I am sincerely grateful to Mayor Dean and the Metro Council for including this project in the capital budget.”
Following Council approval of the land acquisition, the new precinct and crime lab will take 12 to 18 months to complete.
For media inquiries contact:
Janel Lacy
(615) 862-6020
janel.lacy@nashville.gov