🔒South Portland plans new police station at former Walgreens site

The city of South Portland has entered into a contract to purchase the former Walgreens property at 279 Main St. as a future location for a new police station. The city and the property owner have settled on a sale price of $2.525 million. The 2.9-acre property had been listed at $2.85 million. Tom Moulton of the Dunham Group represented the city on the deal. The current 14,760-square-foot police station on Anthoine Street was built in 1967 and has significant deficiencies, according to the city. It floods regularly and has required several costly upgrades, including a boiler replacement, new roof and HVAC overhaul. South Portland has been exploring a new location for the police department, as well as a new central fire station, which is attached to the Anthoine Street station. That facility was built in 1954 and also needs significant renovations and upgrades. The Walgreens property purchase will not require a property tax increase, but will be funded with $1.5 million in Police Asset Forfeiture funds and $1 million in tax increment financing funds, both of which have been earmarked for city facilities.

The City Council plans to bring a bond referendum before voters this November to cover the cost of construction on a new police station, along with fire station upgrades. City staff are working to determine costs. The city is currently performing due diligence to confirm the Walgreens property is suitable for a new police station. City Council is tentatively planning to vote to proceed with a formal purchase and sale agreement at its March 19 meeting. Earlier, the city scrapped a proposal to incorporate the public safety sites into the former Mahoney Middle School building at 240 Ocean St. Ultimately, City Council decided not to pursue that proposal and instead has reassessed facility plans.