Thanks everyone for helping to celebrate this new police station.... My experience with this project reminds me that Thomas Edison said, "Innovation is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration.... Many people gave ideas and worked hard to make this innovation. The project's elements add up to a building that is a healthy workplace for police staff, and that also preserves history, revitalizes a blight-ridden block, and has a low impact on the environment. Three ideas shaped the vision for this building.
The First Idea ... Make the new Police Station Safe, Healthy, and Properly Equipped
The old police station had long been a morale issue. It was run down; it was small; it was dark, its air was stale, and it was cited for violating safety codes. To cap it all, police detainees had to be handcuffed to a radiator in the stairwell ! Everyone saw the need for a larger, brighter, more modern police station. We put our officers on the front line in the war on crime ... it is only fitting that they have the best possible facility for their base of operations.
The Second Idea ... Make the Police Station a Revitalization Project
Experts on fixing old main streets tell you to clean up the worst blight first. The new city hall was our first success at removing blight. The growth of vacant and blighted buildings on this block of Rhode Island Avenue moved us to envision the new police station as a means for more revitalization. The Governor’s smart growth program further supported this strategy.
The Third Idea ... Make the Police Station a Green Design Project
We hear a lot about environmental problems ... climate change, air pollution, water pollution in the Chesapeake Bay ... But what can a small town do, to help? We designed the new city hall to have energy-efficient features, but we wanted to do even better with the police station. We found ideas from energy and environmental programs such as DOE's Rebuild America, EPA’s Energy Star, ICLEI’s Cities for Climate Protection, and the Chesapeake Bay Partners. The staff at these programs (Jack Werner, Katy Hatcher, Abby Young, Kurt Sommers) gave us green ideas to strengthen this project. Action on these ideas started with Mark Bundy of the Maryland Green Buildings Program. He referred us to John Spears as a green advisor for a new Habitat for Humanity home. Thanks to John, the house has many green features, far more than the city hall. After the Habitat dedication, we took John for a tour of the car repair facility that would become the new police station. Even with the constraints of an old building, John just "bubbled over" with green ideas.
The Work Phase ... Combining Police Needs with Revitalization and Green Design
We wanted to make this building so beautiful that everyone would want to work here. To do this, we faced three challenges.
Challenge 1: The Council Funded a Green Advisor. The $1.7 million price tag gave pause to the city council and staff. Imagine the reaction when I urged them to find another $5,000 to hire a green design advisor! The decision was carried by the potential for energy bill savings to pay back much more than the advisor’s fee. I am thankful to the council and the staff. I believe the investment that hired John Spears is already evident in the quality of this workplace. And the energy bill savings will provide a handsome return on investment ... every year that the building operates.
Challenge 2: We sought a 50% Smart Growth Matching Grant. The appeal to the Governor and our state representatives was that this was not just a police station, but was in fact an innovative revitalization project that added blight removal, historic preservation, and green design. The effort succeeded because the Governor liked these smart growth aspects, and his support propelled legislative action by our District 24 team. We offer our sincere thanks to Governor Glendening, Senators Trotter and Exum, and Delegates Benson, Howard, and Swain.
Challenge 3: We Formed the Implementation Team and Found Another Grant. Full of ideas, and flush with state cash, the city called on Spears and Schick-Goldstein architects to make great things happen. Their efforts were well-supported by Public Works Director Ed Gabay. While the project concept was forming, the U.S. Green Building Council launched its LEED program, which provides guidance and certification for green buildings. We asked John if he could see that the building was certified, possibly as the nation’s first green police station. John was excited, but we were out of money ... so, we turned to the Maryland Energy Administration. It’s staff (Gerry Nicholson and Fred Hoover) provided a $7,500 grant, for which we are very grateful. Thanks to this grant, we are hopeful that the building will achieve a gold rating (2d highest level).
More Green Revitalization Projects Coming ...
While many worked on this project, its goals inspired other green projects in the Mount Rainier area of the Gateway arts district. For example, one block up 33rd Street, HIP is renovating a 12-unit apartment building that will include several green features recommended by Mr. Spears. And just two doors up Rhode Island Avenue, Artspace will soon construct a 45-unit artist live-work building. John may also help them with green design.
The Results of all that Work ...
To sum up in Edison’s terms, the inspiration of a few ... led to perspiration by many ... As you can see, they perspired mightily and, thus, the result is magical. The elements add up to a building that provides a healthy workplace for police staff, preserves history, revitalizes the town center, and minimizes impact on the environment. In these brief remarks, I was not able to recall and recognize all the contributors. There are many, and we are truly grateful to all who helped.
A fact sheet is available that lists many of the building’s key features. We have copies here and it is posted (courtesy of Artistic Creations) on the Friends of the Library web site at [http://mtrainierfol.org/roundabout_collection/new_pd.html].
Let me now introduce our design team ... green advisor John Spears and architect Howard Goldstein. They will describe some of the project's key features and answer questions.
Thank you.
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