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Eastlake eyes $30M+ rebuild of public safety campus

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  Published in Science and Technology on Monday, September 8th 2025 at 12:12 GMT by Cleveland.com
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Eastlake Sets Its Sights on a $30‑Million Public‑Safety Campus Rebuild

Eastlake, a small city tucked between the larger Cleveland metro‑area and the Lake County suburbs, is planning a bold $30 million overhaul of its public‑safety campus. The proposal—first unveiled in the city’s late‑summer public‑works forum and now under consideration by the council—would replace a patchwork of aging police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS) facilities with a single, modern complex designed to improve response times, training, and community engagement.

Why a New Campus Is Needed

The current Eastlake Public‑Safety Campus, built in the 1970s, consists of three separate buildings that were never meant to house the combined operations of the police department, the fire department, and the ambulance service. Over the years, the structures have suffered from chronic maintenance issues, inadequate space, and outdated technology. In 2022, a joint study by the City of Eastlake and the Lake County Department of Public Safety concluded that the campus’s age‑related deficiencies risked compromising both personnel safety and service quality.

The city’s Chief of Police, Officer Maria López, stated in a press briefing that “our officers and firefighters are performing extraordinary work every day, but they’re doing it in facilities that no longer meet modern safety standards.” The fire department’s Battalion Chief, Dan Reynolds, echoed the sentiment, noting that the current firehouse’s cramped storage area limits the department’s ability to maintain essential equipment and conduct training drills.

What the New Campus Will Look Like

City planners and architects have drafted a preliminary design for the new campus, slated to occupy a 4.5‑acre parcel currently owned by the city but slated for sale. The new complex will feature:

1. A single, three‑story police headquarters with state‑of‑the‑art crime‑scene analysis labs, a media relations center, and a public information hub.
2. A multi‑level fire station that includes a dedicated training tower, a new 150‑seat community fire‑safety classroom, and a state‑of‑the‑art apparatus bay.
3. A modern EMS hub with advanced simulation suites for medical crews and a dedicated space for ambulance maintenance.
4. Shared recreational facilities – a gym, a meeting room, and a community lounge – intended to foster collaboration between the three departments and encourage community outreach.

The design also calls for a landscaped “community plaza” with seating, a small stage for public briefings, and a “hero’s memorial” honoring local first responders.

The total project estimate of $30 million includes land acquisition, demolition of the existing structures, new building construction, equipment purchases, and a buffer for unforeseen costs. According to the city’s budget office, roughly 20% of the cost is earmarked for integrating cutting‑edge technology such as a city‑wide incident‑management platform, real‑time GPS tracking for all apparatus, and a data‑analytics suite to help predict and mitigate local crime trends.

Financing the Vision

Eastlake is exploring a mix of financing options. The most immediate avenue is a 30‑year municipal bond offering, which the city council could place on the ballot next fall. The proposed bond would be payable from a combination of property tax revenues and a modest increase in the local safety fee. City Clerk Sara Mitchell, who is overseeing the bond filing, explained that “the bond structure is designed to spread the cost over several decades while keeping the annual tax burden low.”

There are also appeals to the State of Ohio for additional grant funding. In a recent letter to the Ohio Department of Finance, the Eastlake city manager requested up to $5 million in state assistance for public‑safety infrastructure upgrades. The request follows the state’s 2024 “Community Resilience” initiative, which aims to modernize small‑city emergency services across the state.

Local businesses have already expressed interest in the project. The Eastlake Chamber of Commerce has pledged a $200,000 matching grant for community‑use facilities, and the Lake County Economic Development Office is evaluating a potential tax incentive for any private partners that could provide technology or maintenance services for the new campus.

Community Reaction

The proposal has sparked a healthy debate among residents, with a range of opinions. In a town‑hall meeting on August 12, nearly 120 residents voiced their concerns and support. Some community members warned that the bond would increase taxes and that the projected cost could be higher if unforeseen challenges arise. Others praised the city for addressing a pressing need, citing the benefits of having a single, modern hub that could streamline emergency responses.

A local nonprofit, “Neighbors for Safety,” highlighted the importance of community engagement, stating, “If we want to have a resilient emergency system, we need to keep the public involved. The plaza and community spaces in the new campus design will allow us to hold public safety workshops and keep our neighbors informed.”

The city’s Economic Development Coordinator, Tom Bianchi, said that the project would generate jobs during construction and beyond. He estimated that the new campus could create roughly 30 construction jobs over two years, and once operational, the campus could support an additional 25 permanent staff positions across the three departments.

Timeline and Next Steps

The Eastlake City Council is slated to vote on the bond proposal during its September 18 meeting. If approved, the city would issue the bonds in the first quarter of 2026. The project’s groundbreaking ceremony is tentatively scheduled for the spring of 2027, with an estimated completion date of mid‑2029.

The city will also hold a series of public consultation sessions in the coming months to refine the campus design and address any further concerns. The public‑safety department will continue to publish progress updates, and a dedicated project website will track milestones, budget releases, and the status of the bond offering.

Bottom Line

Eastlake’s $30 million public‑safety campus rebuild is a bold undertaking aimed at modernizing essential services for the city’s residents. While the plan’s success hinges on community support, financial viability, and effective project management, its potential to strengthen emergency response capabilities and strengthen community ties remains a compelling vision for Eastlake’s future. If the bond passes, the city will take a major step toward ensuring that its police, fire, and EMS departments are not only well-equipped but also better connected to the neighborhoods they serve.