COLLEGE HILL, Ohio (WKRC) - There are now two finalists for the Cincinnati Police Department's District 5 headquarters.
The district covers the central and north central parts of the city and any new location would be better than what used to be. The old District 5 was supposed to be temporary. It lasted from 1957 to 2017.
"Within the police department, we often refer to it as the three-bedroom ranch," said Theresa Theetge, the assistant police chief. "Whatever the outcome is, wherever our new, permanent home will be for District 5, we want it to last us 50 plus years, but we don't want to do it in another temporary home if we can avoid that."
The old District 5 building's parking lot is now a storage site for road salt. Thirty-seven potential replacement sites were considered. The finalists are the now-closed city permit center on Central Parkway in Clifton and the current temporary home on Hamilton Avenue in College Hill.
Karen Hartman has an accounting firm across the street from the temporary station.
"I love them being here. We see them on the avenue. They communicate back and forth. It is wonderful," Hartman said.
The owner of Shaker's Bar a few doors down agrees.
"Since they've been there, you can see the change, and people interacting with the police; the police walk in, and I see the best place for it," said Johnny Collins.
District 5 covers all or part of 14 neighborhoods. The old site and the permit center are closer geographically to more of the district than the temporary home in College Hill is.
"I, for the life of me, can't understand why the College Hill location is even on the list anymore. It's not centrally located. It's not even remotely centrally located. It's almost out of District 5," said Tim Jehkering, a Northside resident.
It may come down to money. Fixing up the permit center, which includes buying the motel next door, would cost $9.7 million dollars. Rehabbing the College Hill site would cost $22.5 million. Either way, police don't want another temporary site.
"I have to kind of be impartial to the actual location and let Council and the city manager handle that part of it. We'll be happy with any new building you build for us in District 5," said Capt. Doug Wiesman, the District 5 commander.
The city administration originally proposed the permit center because it's cheaper but is staying neutral now. The price tag for the more expensive College Hill location could come down, but the city would have to wait 10 years for all the store leases to expire in the shopping center.
A City Council decision is expected in January.
