COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One of the Columbus Division of Police's (CPD) substations is being replaced and the new one is going to be at a central Ohio shopping center.
Substation Six, on Ulry Road, was built in 1974.
“It is 50 years outdated and that area in and of itself is one of the fastest growing areas of Columbus and so we need to make sure we are staying up with the growth, expectations," said Assistant Chief Nick Konves with CPD.
Konves said Substation Six is the one being replaced. The new one will be at Easton. It will be at the corner of Easton Way and Sunbury Road and the land is being provided by Easton, according to the Columbus Department of Public Safety.
“The nice thing about this new spot is it's going to be centrally located. Currently the substation is on the far outskirts but now it's going to be, once it's complete, it’ll be very centrally located," Konves said. “This is going to serve all of the residents over there, all of the visitors that are at the shopping center and it is a centrally located spot which is a huge improvement from what we have now.”
In recent years, NBC4 has covered violent crime, including shootings at Easton and other shopping centers. Konves said while it's not the only one, it is one of the reasons for the new substation's location.
“You look at shopping centers across the nation, there’s always, they can always be a target for crime and so this definitely is going to be a step in the right direction of putting more high visibility, police services, in that area specifically, I have no doubt it’ll serve as a deterrent," he said.
City Council this week approved up to about $1.6 million for the design of the new substation. Between the design and construction, the project is expected to take a little more than two and a half years, according to the Department of Public Safety.
