March 14, 2008

Breaking ground for new SJPD home

City breaks ground on new substation

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Staff Writer

A cold rainy day wasn’t a detraction for the excited attendees of the groundbreaking ceremony for San Jose Police Department’s new southern division substation late last month.

It’s official; SJPD Chief of Police Rob Davis, Councilmembers Pete Constant, Pierluigi Oliverio, Nancy Pyle, Forrest Williams, Kansen Chu, Nora Campos and Vice Mayor Dave Cortese break ground for the new substation. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

“In 2002, the voters of the city were asked to support the Public Safety Bond,” said City of San Jose vice Mayor David Cortese in his opening remarks. “The city council and the citizens of the city of San Jose were committed to supporting the bond measure. We have to thank the rank and file owners of the residences of the city for making this day possible.”

Cortese was joined at the groundbreaking by Chief of Police Rob Davis, Director of Public Works Katy Allen, Councilmembers Pete Constant, Forrest Williams, Kansen Chu, Nora Campos, Pierluigi Oliverio and Nancy Pyle, assistant city manager Christine Shippey, deputy city manager Ed Shikada and other civic and community leaders.

A longtime dream of the San Jose Police Department [SJPD], the need for a substation grew as the city’s population escalated. In March 2002, San Jose voters passed the Neighborhood Security Bond Act [Measure O] approving the issuance of $159 million in General Obligation bonds and funding the construction of 36 public safety facilities.

“This project started 37-years ago,” said District 2 Council-member Forrest Williams. “That speaks volumes about the commitment of the community. This is a great day for San Jose.”

The SJPD South Substation was identified as essential to improving police service in the area. The commute costs the department $10,000 a day for officers commuting to their beats. “This substation will eliminate a huge percentage of that cost,” said Cortese.

In December 2005, the city purchased the 10.5 acre site from Hitachi Global Storage Technologies at Great Oaks Boulevard and Brooklyn Avenue near highways 85 and 101 intersection. The new structure will be a 107,000 square foot, three-story main building with a 6,000 square foot vehicle maintenance building including a basement with parking, a fuel station and a car wash for police vehicles. It will also include a 2,100 square foot public meeting room.

The new substation is designed by Ross Drulis Cusenbury Architecture and constructed under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design [LEED] Green Building Rating System and will include a high level of energy efficiency in mechanical and electrical systems. The total project cost is $82,167,000 built by S. J. Amoroso Construction Company starting March 2008 with a scheduled completion date of October 2009. Councilmember Nancy Pyle earmarked $2.5 million dollars from District 10 for the new substation. It will serve Districts 2, 8, 9 and 10 and house approximately 400 officers.

“The police department has done a tremendous job keeping our city safe,” said Cortese. “The substation is only going to help the department keep the city safe for future generations.”