Staff Report
The search for the new site of the St. Louis County Police Department’s Affton Southwest Precinct is well underway, and the county has narrowed down the search to its chosen site.
Voters approved the construction of a new Affton Precinct and a new North County Precinct when they passed the countywide half-cent sales tax Proposition P last year.
Of the nearly $45 million in funds the tax will bring into the county per year, $13 million was earmarked to construct the new precincts.
The new building will replace the current cramped quarters at 9928 Gravois Road.
“We are making huge movement toward progress with the new station,” 3rd Precinct commander Capt. Melissa Webb told the Call. “I know that they’re working on it diligently. We’re closer than we were. Full steam ahead.”
Police Chief Jon Belmar met with the two County Council members who represent Affton, 6th District Councilman Ernie Trakas, R-Oakville, and 5th District Councilman Pat Dolan, D-Richmond Heights, in January to get their thoughts on the selected site and let them know what progress has been made on the precinct.
County officials are now in the process of negotiating for the land, Trakas said.
“I don’t think either one of us had any problem with the location or the plans,” he said. “Everybody agrees it’s sorely needed.”
Webb could not disclose the possible sites the county is looking at since the purchase of real-estate is a confidential issue. Since the land has not yet been bought, no designs have been produced of what the new precinct might look like. So far, there is not yet a timeline on when construction could start.
Although the land is not yet finalized, officials have taken definite steps toward deciding what could be in the new building. Webb and other police officials have toured other police stations to see what they might want to include in the new precinct.
However long it takes, it won’t be soon enough for the officers working at the current precinct.
“The officers are getting very excited,” Webb said. “They would love to have a new building and a new place — especially for this community, it’s so amazing.”
