To the Cohasset Community,

Newsletter 4 | April 2026

Why Elm Street Cannot Support Both Police and Fire

As the Town continues to evaluate options for its public safety facilities, one question comes up repeatedly:

Can the existing Elm Street campus be renovated to support both Police and Fire?

After careful, professional analysis, the answer is clear: it cannot meet the needs of both departments—now or in the future.

The Reality of the Elm Street Site

The current Elm Street facility is already operating beyond its limits.

• Both Police and Fire are using every available square foot
• Even the basement is in use, despite recurring flooding issues
• There is no room left to expand within the existing structure



This isn’t a matter of preference, or proposing building a new space just for something new, it’s a matter of physical constraint.

There Is No Room to Grow

Expanding outward is not a viable option.

The building is tightly surrounded by:

• Three group homes
• A 60-unit senior housing facility
• A utility easement

In addition, the site shares a single driveway with neighboring residential uses.

That means:

• Emergency police vehicles must navigate the same entrance and exit as residents and visitors
• Response times and safety are impacted by congestion and limited access

This is not how a modern public safety facility should function in order to serve residents efficiently.

Building Up Isn’t a Simple Fix

At first glance, adding a second floor may seem like a solution. In reality, it creates more problems than it solves.

Vertical expansion would require:

• Elevators for accessibility
• Multiple stairwells
• Wider hallways and doorways
• Larger bathrooms to meet code

These requirements take up significant space, reducing usable area.

Even more importantly:

• The existing structure would need major reinforcement
• Floors, foundations, and slabs would likely need partial or full reconstruction



In plain terms:

We would spend heavily to rebuild the building, without gaining the space or functionality needed.

We Still Need a Temporary Facility

Renovating Elm Street wouldn’t just be complicated; it would be disruptive.

To complete a full renovation:

• Police and Fire operations would need to be relocated during construction
• The Town would need to secure and fund temporary facilities. Those facilities would still need to meet modern safety, accessibility, and operational standards for public safety use, adding additional cost and complexity to the project.
  

That adds another layer of cost, logistics, and risk to an already constrained option.

So What Happens to Elm Street?

Elm Street still has a role to play.

The focus moving forward is expected to include:

• Upgrading mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems that have reached the end of their useful life
• Making targeted interior improvements to better support existing workflows

The final scope will be guided by the Fire Department’s operational needs and overall planning efforts.

The Bottom Line

The question isn’t whether Elm Street can be improved—it’s whether it can solve the problems facing modern public safety operations.

And based on the facts, it cannot.

These project newsletters are developed and generated by the Owner's Project Manager, to keep the community informed of the progress being made. 

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the public safety project, please send an email to the Town and we will answer them as quickly as possible.

Email the Project Team