Former Dartmouth Police Station at 247 Russells Mills Road

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The former Police Station is 2 ½-story building located at 247 Russells Mills Road in Dartmouth. The building 21,000 square feet, with two garage structures behind the main structure. The former police building sits on a large, town-owned land parcel that also includes a WWI memorial, the Dartmouth Community Television headquarters building, and its broadcast antenna. The parcel abuts the Town owned Dartmouth Youth Athletic Association fields and open space.

In 2014, the building was decommissioned after the Legionella bacteria was discovered in the piping. Since that time, the property has been used in a limited capacity for police trainings and the Bliss Corner investigation.

Over the last decade, the Town considered several options, including a $8.5M building renovation, which was rejected by voters in a 2016 referendum. In 2020, Town Meeting authorized the demolition of the former Police Station. In 2023, the Town awarded a bid for the demolition of the building. During the permitting process, the Historical Commission and local advocates requested that the Select Board consider alternative reuse options.

After several meetings, the Select Board voted to contract an appraisal firm to determine the property's value based on current conditions and under a hypothetical zoning change. In addition, the Select Board voted to add a warrant article to the 2024 Spring Town Meeting requesting authorization to sell the property (or portions of the property).

At the 2024 Spring Town Meeting, Town Meeting Representatives voted to indefinitely postpone the Select Board’s request for authorization to sell the former police station.

The Dartmouth Select Board intends to continue the discussion on the recuse of the former police station in summer 2024.

The former Police Station is 2 ½-story building located at 247 Russells Mills Road in Dartmouth. The building 21,000 square feet, with two garage structures behind the main structure. The former police building sits on a large, town-owned land parcel that also includes a WWI memorial, the Dartmouth Community Television headquarters building, and its broadcast antenna. The parcel abuts the Town owned Dartmouth Youth Athletic Association fields and open space.

In 2014, the building was decommissioned after the Legionella bacteria was discovered in the piping. Since that time, the property has been used in a limited capacity for police trainings and the Bliss Corner investigation.

Over the last decade, the Town considered several options, including a $8.5M building renovation, which was rejected by voters in a 2016 referendum. In 2020, Town Meeting authorized the demolition of the former Police Station. In 2023, the Town awarded a bid for the demolition of the building. During the permitting process, the Historical Commission and local advocates requested that the Select Board consider alternative reuse options.

After several meetings, the Select Board voted to contract an appraisal firm to determine the property's value based on current conditions and under a hypothetical zoning change. In addition, the Select Board voted to add a warrant article to the 2024 Spring Town Meeting requesting authorization to sell the property (or portions of the property).

At the 2024 Spring Town Meeting, Town Meeting Representatives voted to indefinitely postpone the Select Board’s request for authorization to sell the former police station.

The Dartmouth Select Board intends to continue the discussion on the recuse of the former police station in summer 2024.

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  • Share What is the former police station property worth? on Facebook Share What is the former police station property worth? on Twitter Share What is the former police station property worth? on Linkedin Email What is the former police station property worth? link

    What is the former police station property worth?

    3 months ago

    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.


  • Share What can the former police station property be used for? on Facebook Share What can the former police station property be used for? on Twitter Share What can the former police station property be used for? on Linkedin Email What can the former police station property be used for? link

    What can the former police station property be used for?

    3 months ago

    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.

  • Share Can the Town sell the former police station property? on Facebook Share Can the Town sell the former police station property? on Twitter Share Can the Town sell the former police station property? on Linkedin Email Can the Town sell the former police station property? link

    Can the Town sell the former police station property?

    3 months ago

    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.

  • Share How does the property fit into the Town’s long-term capital planning goals? on Facebook Share How does the property fit into the Town’s long-term capital planning goals? on Twitter Share How does the property fit into the Town’s long-term capital planning goals? on Linkedin Email How does the property fit into the Town’s long-term capital planning goals? link

    How does the property fit into the Town’s long-term capital planning goals?

    3 months ago

    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.

  • Share Who decides what happens to the building? on Facebook Share Who decides what happens to the building? on Twitter Share Who decides what happens to the building? on Linkedin Email Who decides what happens to the building? link

    Who decides what happens to the building?

    3 months ago

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

  • Share What’s going to happen to the money that was set aside to demolish the building? on Facebook Share What’s going to happen to the money that was set aside to demolish the building? on Twitter Share What’s going to happen to the money that was set aside to demolish the building? on Linkedin Email What’s going to happen to the money that was set aside to demolish the building? link

    What’s going to happen to the money that was set aside to demolish the building?

    3 months ago

    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.  

  • Share Is the building still eligible to be demolished? on Facebook Share Is the building still eligible to be demolished? on Twitter Share Is the building still eligible to be demolished? on Linkedin Email Is the building still eligible to be demolished? link

    Is the building still eligible to be demolished?

    3 months ago

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

  • Share What will happen to the DCTV building next door to the former police building? on Facebook Share What will happen to the DCTV building next door to the former police building? on Twitter Share What will happen to the DCTV building next door to the former police building? on Linkedin Email What will happen to the DCTV building next door to the former police building? link

    What will happen to the DCTV building next door to the former police building?

    3 months ago

    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.

Page published: 07 Aug 2024, 11:30 AM