Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. broke ground Tuesday on what will become the city's new combined police, fire and emergency management headquarters.
The existing building, which served as the MGM Grand Detroit temporary casino and as an Internal Revenue Service data center, will reopen next summer as the combined headquarters after a $60-million makeover.
Bing told about 100 people at the ground-breaking that the building will increase efficiency in the fight against crime and violence.
"I know this is a difficult time in our city's history," Bing said. "But I also know we can fight back and win. We can't let fear paralyze us. We must be motivated to take our city back."
In January, the Detroit City Council approved converting the seven-story, 400,000-square-foot building into a state-of-the-art public safety headquarters.
The complex also will house the city's Homeland Security Office and related agencies.
Negotiations are under way to include the Michigan State Police's Metropolitan Forensic Laboratory within the facility.
Known as the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, the complex will bear the address 1301 Third.
The project team includes SmithGroup architects, White Turner JV contractor, and Hines Detroit Services management consultant. The Detroit Building Authority, which sold bonds to pay for the project, will manage the work.
Copyright 2012 - Detroit Free Press
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
