'This is exciting for our guys.' Ashland christens new public safety building

ASHLAND — After more than a decade of starts and non-starts, the new Ashland Public Safety Building is open.

The 42,000-square-foot facility opened last month at 12 Union St., providing a new combined home to the town's Police and Fire departments.

"I've been in this department for over 30 years, and this is exciting for our guys," said Fire Chief Keith Robie. "It was much needed for both police and fire. We've had a lot of support from the town and that means a lot."

Police Chief Cara Rossi saw the process develop as an Ashland resident, even as she worked as a lieutenant for the Natick Police Department. She was hired last spring to become Ashland's chief.

"I wasn't part of the Ashland PD when it (the project) first started, but I've been a resident and I was watching it closely and even as a resident, I knew it was an incredible need for the department," she said. "The building before was not conducive to public safety work in the 2000s."

The Police Department is currently operating from the building, with Fire Department expected to move in by about May 1.

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Ashland began exploring the possibility of a public safety building in 2008, or even earlier, Town Manager Michael Herbert said. But for various reasons, nothing came of it until 2017.

"We decided that is something that we wanted to get done, that we needed to get done," Herbert said.

A feasibility study identified the property on Union Street as the best location for the new facility. After negotiations with property owner Howard Fafard, the town took the property via eminent domain.

Initially, the early estimate for the project was $36 million, but after bids, the project came in at about $30 million, Herbert said.

"We had some challenges to get through, but we got it done," he said. "From my perspective, six years from soups to nuts, isn't that bad and I'm just glad we moved it forward and got it done."

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The police station on Main Street was built in 1978 and the Main Street fire station was built in 1927. The Cedar Street fire station will become part of the Department of Public Works, while an outdoor training area will remain to be used by the Fire Department.

'Clean' areas for fire equipment

On the fire side, the new building has bays large enough for modern fire apparatus, as well as separate areas to store equipment. Before, dirty gear was kept in an open area with the other equipment until it was cleaned.

"The new station is bringing in a lot of safety designs — clean rooms and dirty areas," said Robie. "I think COVID showed a lot of people how important that is."

There will also be larger living areas, separate eating areas as well as a report-writing area and meeting rooms. Inside the old stations, everything was crammed in one space, Robie said.

The training room, which can hold 50 people, will be shared by both the Police and Fire departments.There will also be a new, shared gym with new equipment. The gym was previously in the basement of the Main Street fire station.

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There will also be a joint dispatch area, which will quicken fire response, Robie said.

"Before, the 911 call would come into the police station and then there would be a delay as it was transferred to our (fire) station," said Robie. "Now, they'll be sitting right next to each other, and there will be better communications between the two departments."

On the police side, the additional space is much needed, Rossi said. The former police headquarters was just 4,000 square feet, forcing the town to rent additional Main Street office space for $33,000 a year.

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"The old station had one small room that served as roll call, a lunchroom and report writing," said Rossi. "If you wanted to have a meal there and someone else was there writing a report… there was no area where you could do work."

In addition, there was a lack of privacy, as most walls weren't built to reach the ceiling.

"I couldn't even have a conversation in my office that was private," she said. "There was no space for investigatory work that may be of a sensitive nature."

Another improvement is a women's bathroom, Rossi said.

"I was the chief and I was going outside to a trailer in the back to use the bathroom," she said.

As for the two buildings that have been replaced, the town put out RFPs for each. Herbert said the town received a proposal recently that would put a brewery into the former fire headquarters. There is not yet a plan for the police station.

Herbert credited the work of Assistant Town Manager Jenn Ball and the town Building Committee, as well as the Select Board and voters, for making the new public safety building a reality.

"It's nice to say, 'OK, we're going to get it done and open,' and then to really have it open and ready for our first responders," said Herert. "They deserve these facilities and I'm happy we could get it to them."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Ashland's new $30 million public safety building has opened