Former Dartmouth Police Station at 247 Russells Mills Road

Since the building stopped serving as the Town’s police station it has been appraised twice. Once in February 2017 and again in May of 2024. Both completed appraisals are available to view in the right column under ‘Appraisals.’

In 2024, four options were given for subdivision and the associated value.

$630,000: 1.97-acre portion of Parcel 132/1, based on the hypothetical condition that a zoning change would allow the existing building to be converted to ten residential units of 1,300 to 1,500 square feet with the restriction that all parking would be provided in a common parking garage without solid walls located below the living area or within the detached garages.

$610,000: 0.92-acre portion of Parcel 132/1, based on the hypothetical condition that a zoning change would allow the existing building to be converted to ten residential units of 1,300 to 1,500 square feet with the restriction that all parking would be provided in a common parking garage.

$125,000: 1.97-acre portion of Parcel 132/1, under current zoning.

$120,000: 0.92-acre portion of Parcel 132/1, under current zoning.

For the zoning to change it would need to come before the Zoning Board of Appeals. There was an appeal for a zoning change to allow multi-family use in 2017, which was declined by the Planning Board.

Additional uses, such as affordable housing, would require a zoning change though the ZBA.

Yes, to sell the former police station, the Dartmouth Select Board would need Town Meeting approval to allow the Select Board to sell the building and the lot. The Board attempted to receive this approval at the 2024 Spring Town Meeting and it was indefinitely postponed.

Prior to selling the lot, the former police station property would need to be subdivided. As it is now, the parcel has the former police station, the garage and storage buildings behind it, the parking lot, the Dartmouth Community Television headquarters, and the DCTV broadcast antenna. Currently, the lot is 2.43 acres, and it is zoned for municipal business.

The property where the former police station is located connects with a few different Town-owned properties and buildings, including the Dartmouth Community Television headquarters, Crapo Fields, the pickleball courts on Slocum Road, and a 5.7-acre undeveloped land parcel where the Town is working to design and develop a recreation center.

The former police station falls under the jurisdiction of the Dartmouth Select Board.

The funding that was set aside to demolish the building is still available to be used for that purpose, or the money will be turned back to the Town’s general fund at the Select Boards discretion.  

Yes, the funding that was allocated at Spring 2020 Town Meeting to demolish the building is still able to be used for that purpose.

The Town of Dartmouth plans to keep the Dartmouth Community Television building and the broadcast antenna, which is located between the buildings. Should the town vote to sell the former police station, the DCTV property will be separated into its own parcel.

If the building is demolished that will have no impact on the DCTV building or antenna.