New Hanover Building Plan Splits Offices, Police

The current township building was built in 1976.

New Hanover Supervisors made their choice Thursday, selecting one of four options for a major construction and renovation project that will result in new administrative offices and a new home for the police department.

Last month, the supervisors were presented with four options for expanding both the administrative and police office space.

This month they picked one: to renovate the existing township building on Route 662 and the recreation center on Hoffmansville Road.

The township building will then be devoted entirely to administration and the recreation center would become the police headquarters.

That option has a price estimate of $3.8 million to $4.5 million.

Supervisors Chairman Charles D. Garner Jr. was joined by W. Ross Snook and Vice Chairman Kurt Zebrwoski in favoring that option.

Supervisors Boone Flint and Marie Marie Livelsberger said they preferred an option that kept both facilities together on the same "campus."

Currently, township administration and police share the same 6,150-square-foot building.

The building was built in 1976, has a leaky roof, and space has become too cramped for the growing departments.

Police Chief Kevin McKeon and Township Manager Jamie Gwynn had also recommended the option favored by the majority.

Both said having the police at the recreation center, located on Hoffmansville Road, would give the police department room to grow in years to come as the township population grows. 

"You can put 25 to 30 guys in here, no problem. It fits us perfectly, and we will have so much storage," McKeon told the board. He said a police car can get anywhere in the township from that site in seven minutes.

Both said the space at the center, with sits on a large plot of open land, provides room to expand for the next 30 years.

There was no discussion about whether the recreation facilities in the building, including the large gymnasium, will be preserved for recreation use.

Click here to see the Tweets from the meeting.