Community, PBC Break Ground On New Albany Park Police Station

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2003
Contact: Jack Beary
(312) 744-9277

Ald. Margaret Laurino (39th) and Public Building Commission Executive Director Kevin Gujral joined 17th District Police Cmdr. Sam Christian in breaking ground for the new Albany Park Police Station.

UBM Inc. is building the new station at 4650 North Pulaski Road under an $11.8 million contract with the PBC. It will replace the 65-year-old station now used by 17th District police just two blocks south on Pulaski. Albany Park's new station will feature state-of-the-art computers, a large meeting room, space for community policing activities, a fitness room and expanded locker facilities for male and female officers, Gujral said.

When the project is completed, officers will work out of a 43,000-square-foot station more than four times the size of the existing 17th District facility. The old station was built in 1938 and is one of the oldest police district buildings in Chicago.

The new site will feature parking on both sides of Pulaski Road, with the station on the west side of Pulaski between Leland and Eastwood avenues, officials said. Parking lots will be on the west side of Pulaski from Eastwood to Wilson avenues, and on the east side of Pulaski between Leland and Eastwood. Additional community parking will be located north of the station. UBM has committed to 26 percent participation by Minority Business Enterprises and 6 percent participation by Women Business Enterprises, officials said.

The PBC, chaired by Mayor Richard Daley, has built five new district stations in the last four years under the mayor's Neighborhoods Alive 21 program. In all, 19 police stations will be replaced or renovated under this ambitious program, officials said.