The city broke ground on its new Public Safety Headquarters, which will be located next to Higgins Middle School, on Thursday.
The project is expected to cost $69 million, which includes $61 million in construction costs and an additional $8 million in soft costs, including paying the architect and project manager, Mayor Ted Bettencourt said.
Bettencourt, alongside Police Chief Thomas Griffin and Fire Chief Jay Dowling, hosted the event.
Bettencourt recognized and thanked state and local officials for their attendance and support of the project, including retired Mayor Michael Bonfanti, Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker, retired Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, retired Fire Chiefs Joseph Mendonca and Joe Daly, retired Police Chief Robert St. Pierre, Maurice Pratt from the Essex County Sheriff’s Department, City Council President Stephanie Peach, Ward 2 City Council Peter McGinn, Ward 4 City Councilor Julie Daigle, School Committee members Joe Amico and Jarrod Hochman, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Kelly Chase and Dr. Mark Higgins, and Higgins Middle School Principal Todd Bucey.
He also thanked state Sen. Joan Lovely, state Reps Tom Walsh and Sally Kerans, and Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger, who supported the project but were not in attendance.
Bettencourt also specifically thanked the city’s purchasing agent, Dan Doucette, who serves as a project team coordinator on the new public-safety facility project.
Bettencourt referred to the new headquarters as a “historic investment” in public safety.
“Peabody is a vibrant, growing community, and public safety is one of the key pillars that keeps our city strong and well-prepared for the future. I’ve often spoken about the fact that the backbone of any city — any community and town — is education and public safety,” he said. “Today, with the investments we are making, in public safety, to have this new Public Safety Headquarters right here, next to the Higgins Middle School — to me, that’s the backbone of our community and something that I’m very proud to be here with all of you to share in this moment.”
The city’s current headquarters, located on Allens Lane, is nearly 50 years old and “no longer meets the needs of our outstanding officers, professional support staff, and the nearly 55,000 residents who call Peabody home,” Bettencourt said.
Griffin said the city’s “investment” in public safety will “pay dividends for years to come, with the type of technology and training… we’re going to be able to do in the facilities.”
Bettencourt introduced the project team — Construction Monitoring Services Inc., Tecton Architects, and W.T. Rich Co.
He also announced a “Name the Rock” competition, which will give the students of Higgins Middle School the opportunity to decide the name of a rock on the construction site that will stay on the site and be displayed in the new building.
