North Austin News

Negotiations are nearing completion for the City of Austin to purchase a 386,000-square-foot facility in Southwest Austin. This facility, located near Zilker Park and close to downtown, is intended to serve as a consolidated headquarters for Austin Police, Austin Fire, and Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services if approved.

Mayor Kirk Watson highlighted the significance of this acquisition: “This purchase represents a historic opportunity to co-locate our public safety administrative and strategic functions, allowing for unprecedented collaboration and efficiencies.” He noted that the current facilities are outdated with issues such as failing mechanical systems and inadequate restroom facilities.

The City Council will vote on this acquisition at its meeting on October 24. The Council’s Public Safety Committee is set to review a presentation about the acquisition on October 14.

The co-location aims to enhance emergency response capabilities by facilitating real-time communication among the three agencies. This integration is expected to support training, streamline information sharing, and promote cohesive operational strategies.

The proposed purchase price of $107.6 million is considered cost-effective compared to building a new facility estimated at $234 million. The city plans an additional $13 million in design and renovations for specific public safety needs. According to City Manager T.C. Broadnax, "Revitalizing existing buildings is a wise investment as we will use existing infrastructure."

Currently, public safety departments operate from multiple older facilities with extensive problems. Broadnax expressed optimism about the project: “This vision of a co-located public safety headquarters has been in the works for more than 20 years.”