Mixed reactions from residents as city considers closing police substation

The city of Bradenton is re-evaluating several of its properties in an attempt to put them to better use. One on the chopping block is the Bradenton Police Department’s substation in the Washington Park community of east Bradenton and resident reaction is mixed.

Rafael Garcia has lived two houses down from the substation for seven years and wants it to stay.

“It makes us feel safer here,” Garcia said.

Others feel it could be put to better use. A resident of 20 years who didn’t want to be identified said it should be turned back into a home for a family who needs housing, but wouldn’t be opposed to seeing it used for more community events. Another resident agreed, but said if there was a more consistent police presence at the substation, he would be in favor of it staying.

The Central Community Redevelopment Agency purchased the property located at 1013 Sixth St. E. for $129,000 in 2006. It was recently appraised for just over $76,000, according to the Manatee County Property Appraiser website. Built in 1998 as a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, the substation is primarily used for police officers to take lunch breaks and file reports.

Residents say they rarely see an officer there and when there is one, they stay for about 45 minutes or less. Police Chief Melanie Bevan previously has said the substation is underused, but would like to see it used more for community policing events. The substation was placed there during some high-crime times in the Washington Park community. Now police say crime in the community is low and typically occurs around the fringes of the CCRA borders along the main traffic corridors.

Economic Development Director Carl Callahan said nothing is off the table at this point, but the city council will have a decision to make in the short-term future.

“We’re spending a couple thousand dollars to replace the A/C unit now,” Callahan said. “That’s not a lot of money, but soon it will require some significant money to be put into that building. It’s getting in pretty bad shape and the council will need to make a decision if we are going to keep putting money into it.”

Callahan said the city will review alternatives or decide to spend the money, “but that’s a discussion for another day.”

The police department’s only other substation is at 1401 14th St. W. The city has long indicated it was willing to close that substation and sell the property for the right development project.

This story was originally published December 11, 2017 at 1:57 PM with the headline "Mixed reactions from residents as city considers closing police substation."