What the station would look like if you saw it from the southeastern sky.
Will more voters be inclined to support a bond issue for Albany’s planned new police and fire stations once they’ll know exactly what they’re getting? The city council seems to think so, but whether detailed plans will help or hurt we’ll have to wait and see. Meanwhile, there are likely to be questions about at least a few of the details.
The city council on Monday had before it several pages of floor plans proposed for both buildings by Mackenzie, the Portland firm with which the city is negotiating a design contract for the overall project. The plans show attractive and — to the layman — extremely functional buildings in which it would be a pleasure to work. On the plans all the rooms are labeled, which is helpful. But some labels will need an explanation.
For instance, on the ground floor of the police building, the booking area is flanked by three “hard” holding cells on one side and two “soft” cells on the other. What’s a soft cell and what is it for?
On the second floor, the detectives’ section has a “war room.” I assume that’s cop talk for a conference room where investigators can assemble on big cases. In the interest of community relations, a less martial term might be applied to this space. Separate from the war room there’s a detectives’ bullpen, presumably for more informal kinds of back and forth.
The second floor shows an outdoor patio for the staff, complete with an illustration of what looks like a propane grill — presumably for police picnics. The plans for the new Fire Station 11 downtown also show a second-floor roof garden and patio, with a nicer grill. I’m pretty sure both the police and the fire crews will be expected to supply their own barbecues, but that might be made plain before people vote. (The council expects to call the bond election for next May, after the plans are refined.)
As part of the administration section on the fire hall’s second floor, the plan shows a “unisex shower,” and voters may want to know what that’s about.
It’s been clear all along in the planning that the fire station, though taking up more space and closing Sixth Avenue at Lyon, will leave Hasty Freez on the corner in place. The new station will have the traditional pole, so when firefighters are in a hurry to get one of those world-famous shakes, they can slide on down. (hh)
Interior details of the police station proposal. The fitness room could be added later.
One of the pages from the fire station floor plan.
Recent story about city mangers new compensation package might not help the cause here.
Come on! A BBQ grill? I can understand an outside smoking area but this is a little much