Leggett Celebrates Groundbreaking for Police Department’s New 3rd District Station

[Howard Hartman]

For Immediate Release July 18, 2012

Leggett Celebrates Groundbreaking for
Police Department’s New 3rd District Station

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Montgomery County Police Department’s new 3rd District station that will be located at 1002 Milestone Drive in Silver Spring.

“I am very proud that we are beginning construction of a brand new police facility that will further serve the vibrant downtown and greater Silver Spring communities.” Leggett said. “The demands of policing have increased and far surpassed what the current station facility can support.”

The new facility will replace the current 3rd District station, which is located at 801 Sligo Avenue in the far south end of the District. That station, built in 1962, does not provide adequate work space, lacks essential security features and is not equipped to accommodate future technology. It has no public meeting space, and requires replacement of major building infrastructure components.

The 3rd District covers the entire Route 29 corridor from downtown Silver Spring to Burtonsville. The new station is being built near the center of the district in White Oak.

Joining Leggett at the ceremony were: Montgomery County Councilmember Phil Andrews, Maryland Senator Jamie Raskin, Maryland Delegate Thomas Hucker, Montgomery County Police Chief J. Thomas Manger, and Director of the Department of General Services David Dise.

“The men and women who work out of our 3rd District will operate with increased efficiency in a Police Station that is big enough to accommodate our staffing, and has the right infrastructure to meet our demands for policing in the 21st century,” said Police Chief Tom Manger.

The 32,844 gross-square-foot station will consist of two floors and include a surface parking lot. The first floor will house operations, patrol and patrol support functions, and a small arrestee processing area. The second floor will house investigative units, staff support and administration. A public meeting room will facilitate outreach with the 3rd District community.

The new district station will operate 24-hours, seven days a week, providing support for beat patrol teams and functioning as the command center for satellite facilities within the 3rd Police District.

The 3rd District Police Station is expected to achieve a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) silver rating by incorporating environmentally-sensitive design elements that contribute to sustainability and the operational efficiency of the building. Some of these elements include: clerestories (light wells and large windows that allow daylight into most of the occupied spaces and views to the outside); a green roof (85 percent of the roof will be covered by vegetation); low impact site design elements that reduce the quantity of storm water runoff while improving the quality; water-efficient plumbing fixtures; an energy-efficient building envelope and heating, ventilation and air conditioning design; and use of recycled and locally manufactured materials.

A forest conservation easement will be maintained on the west and north side of the facility. It will cover approximately four acres and create a minimum of 180 to 200 feet of natural forest to serve as a green buffer between the police station and the neighboring residential areas.

The construction contractor for the center is Mt. Airy-based Keller Brothers, Inc. The architect is Dewberry, based in Fairfax, Virginia. The cost for constructing this project is estimated at $11,695,000. The station is expected to open by the fall of 2013.

TRhe current command staff of the 3rd District includes: Commander Donald Johnson and Deputy Commanders Robert Carter, Edwin Daniel, Elizabeth Hattenburg, and Michael Price.

For more information about the project, check the County’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/neighborhoodprojects.