COLUMBIA, S.C. — The city of Columbia's new law enforcement and judicial center has a home.
The announcement that the new law enforcement and judicial center will be located in what is currently the long standing Aflac building at 400 laurel off of Huger street.
"This is going to be a great project. Not only will we have the court system here but we will have an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) office and also our police headquarters, said Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann.
Alongside the mayor was Columbia police chief Skip Holbrook, and the city manager Teresa Wilson who gave details as to what will change within the coming months.
"This is a transformational opportunity for our department, so deserving and we are just really blessed to be in this position today," Chief Holbrook said .
The 172,000 foot facility will allow departments to work closer literally and figuratively, according the chief.
"I feel like this is that opportunity to finally really mold that culture, the traditions, and history as well as the value we place on our 21st century police. Really captures all of that at this new headquarters."
The project will be broken into phases with phase one now underway.
The "real work" is said to begin in January, according to Wilson, "that includes operation, maintenance, design services, the upfit, construction costs, and contingency, all of that would be the phase one approach."
The $11 million dollar project is only a starting estimate, Wilson believes that price may go down, “All of that design work will be ongoing. But the focus is to start with the police department in phase one,” she said.
Funding for the project comes from the city and as for the department's old facilities, they are said to be put on the market shortly.
"Guess what folks, we are selling them. We are putting them back out there, putting them on the tax-rolls so that we can consolidate and sell them. We are selling close to 13 properties around the city," Mayor Rickenmann said.
The consolidation of law enforcement and judicial divisions in a centralized location is said to streamline operations, foster collaboration, and further solidify Columbia's standing as a safe and secure community.