Frequently Asked Questions

The current Concord Police Station at 35 Green Street was built in 1974, occupied in 1975, and was expanded in the 1985 with the addition of a third floor.  In the 50 years since the 1970 census, Concord’s population has grown by almost 14,000 citizens and the size of the police force has grown by 50%. Calls for service have also increased by 112%.  The current 20,000 square foot building is not only too small, but has some functional challenges for a modern-day police department.

Recognizing the need for a new building, City Council authorized the purchase of the former Concord Group Insurance building on Bouton Street, at the intersection of North Main and North State streets, when the opportunity arose in 2024.  This building is centrally located and when renovated will have sufficient space for our police department for decades to come.

The City plans to renovate the Bouton Street property to meet the needs of our 21^st Century police force.  Specifically, the issues to be addressed include but are not limited to:

• Safety issues related to prisoner entry, booking and holding
• Evidence handling, storage and retention
• Training and vehicle maintenance space
• Upgraded communication and dispatch technology
• Overall work environment improvements (HVAC and lighting)
• Dedicated spaces for specialized units, including the computer crimes unit

Some new construction will be needed, but the intention is to preserve the mid-century modern architectural look of a building which has been a prominent neighborhood fixture for more than 60 years.

Funds are allocated in the FY 28 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to renovate the building.  Returning off-site departments to the municipal complex at 35-41 Green Street will alleviate the ongoing cost of leased space and provide universal access to all citizens and staff who may need it.  The critical elements of the building have been well maintained over the years and centralizing various operations on Green Street also has the potential to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

The City is working with Milestone Construction, LLC of Concord as the construction manager.  Milestone has experience in similar projects and has been a reliable partner for many years.  

Design services will be provided by Harriman Architecture and Design’s project team based in Portsmouth.  The Harriman team, along with their national public safety expert, has designed a number of New England police and public safety facilities.

Both vendors were selected from a large pool of interested firms and went through a rigorous competitive procurement process.  The City understands the impact this project will have on the community, so every effort will be made to utilize local subcontractors and vendors where appropriate.

The City understands the architectural significance of this unique property.  Every effort will be made to retain the classic elements of the structure that are valued by the community.  As such, we are pleased to be working with Harriman as they designed the original building in 1958.

A firm budget for the project is currently in progress and will be presented to City Council at the October 14, 2025 meeting.  In July 2025, City Council was presented with an anticipated cost around $41,000,000.

The City purchased the building in 2024 and is maintaining it in a hibernated state.  Design work has started and we are currently at 60% design development. Interior demolition of the building has started, and will continue through the fall and winter.   We hope to be starting construction in spring 2026 with completion scheduled for fall 2027.

Developing a once-in-a-generation project while being frugal with tax dollars will be the biggest challenge.  Meeting new seismic requirements and merging new and existing construction on a tight site will require extraordinary planning, execution, and care.  We are confident that with the talented project team we have drawn together we will deliver a building that the community will be proud of for decades to come.

In addition to meeting the specific needs of our police force, we anticipate that a new facility will also promote the training, recruitment, and retention goals of the department.  With thoughtfully designed spaces including a welcoming lobby, a convenient records area, and meeting spaces that are inviting and accessible will add value to this project.  Planned improvement such as this will allow residents to easily and privately file reports, speak with officers, and access important personal information.  We hope to involve and engage local school students in the design and construction process. The project team is also looking to design the building to be as energy efficient as possible. 

Visit the project webpage for more information and project updates.