Expanding Land Holdings: Town Purchasing 3.8 Acres at Southington PD

A real estate deal approved by the Town Council Monday could allow for eventual long-term expansion and increased opportunities at the Southington Police Department after the town entered into an agreement to purchase 3.8 acres of open space behind police headquarters.

The council passed a unanimous motion for the purchase of the open space after negotiations led Southington to be able to acquire the property directly adjacent to the back lot of the police station for just $31,600.

“It’s a very rare occasion where the seller agrees to sell the land for exactly what the town values it at,” said Southington Town Attorney Mark Sciota. “This is a great deal for the community and a great opportunity for the town moving forward.”

The purchase is one that will provide short- and long-term benefits for the station and could eventually lead to a consolidation of services between police and fire, though the latter is still years away and there is nothing in the works yet, both Southington Town Manager Garry Brumback and Police Chief Jack Daly said Tuesday.

Immediately, Daly said it provides assurance that the town will be able to keep the lot behind the department secure. The lot contains a special unit for larger pieces of evidence in cases and although the lot is gated, fenced and monitored through security cameras and patrol.

“With the property for sale, you never know who the new buyer could be,” Daly said. “We already have several precautions in place, but acquiring this property provides a sense of assurance that we won’t have to worry about that. There are also opportunities for the property down the road.”

The parcel contains wetlands and would need proper planning for any sort of development, Brumback said, but could prove beneficial for training purposes and in the extreme long-term – ten years down the road on longer – the land could be considered as a potential location to consolidate services and build an all-inclusive police, fire and public safety complex.

Brumback said for the time being, however, there are no plans in the works for any of that.

“The biggest benefit of this acquisition is the opportunity it provides,” Daly said. “Once the property is gone, the opportunity is also gone. We now know we will have these opportunities down the road.”

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