To the Cohasset Community,

Newsletter 5 | May 2026

Why the Project Is Being Proposed

Town officials, public safety staff, and project consultants state that the current Elm Street facility can no longer adequately support modern police operations. Concerns identified throughout the outreach materials include:


• Lack of private space for victims and interviews
• Inadequate booking, detention, and evidence areas
• Accessibility limitations
• Overcrowded and conflicting room uses
• Recruitment and morale challenges
• Shared emergency access with neighboring residential uses
• No realistic ability to expand the site
  

Police officers described victims reporting sensitive incidents in a small public lobby without privacy, and rooms simultaneously functioning as break rooms, evidence processing areas, offices, and training rooms due to lack of space.


The project team also states that the existing site has reached its physical limits. The property is surrounded by three group homes, a 60-unit senior housing facility, and a utility easement, leaving little to no room for expansion.

Why Elm Street Cannot Simply Be Expanded

The Town evaluated renovation and expansion options for Elm Street and determined they would not adequately solve the core issue: lack of functional space.

Expanding outward is constrained by the surrounding properties and shared driveway access. Building upward would require elevators, additional stairwells, wider hallways, structural reinforcement, and major reconstruction to meet modern code and accessibility standards. According to the project architect, these requirements would consume much of the added space while significantly increasing costs.



The Town also notes that renovating Elm Street would require temporary relocation of Police and Fire operations during construction, creating additional cost and logistical challenges.

What the Proposed Facility Includes

The proposed Police Facility at 135 King Street is approximately 23,600 square feet and is designed specifically for modern public safety operations.

The project includes:

• Modern booking and detention areas
• Secure evidence storage
• Dedicated interview and reporting rooms
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
• ADA-compliant accessibility improvements
• High-efficiency HVAC and energy systems
• Solar-ready infrastructure
• Secure operational and support spaces
  

The Emergency Operations Center would replace the current emergency operations setup located in the basement of Deer Hill Elementary School.

Fire Department and Elm Street Plans

The Fire Department would remain at Elm Street. The King Street site is not large enough to support a full combined Police and Fire facility.

Town Meeting approved $150,000 to begin planning for the future of the Elm Street fire station.

The project would also allow the Town’s second ambulance, which is currently stored off-site due to lack of space, to become operational by freeing space at Elm Street.

Project Cost and Funding

The funding request for this project is approximately $32.18 million, including:

• Property acquisition
• Construction
• Site work
• Design and project management
• Technology systems

Funding includes:

• Approximately $10.4 million previously appropriated
• A new borrowing request of approximately $21.78 million through debt exclusion financing
  

The Town states that exact interest costs cannot yet be determined because permanent borrowing would occur closer to construction completion, approximately three years from now.


Residents are encouraged to use the Town’s online tax impact calculator to estimate the impact on their household.

Why Costs Increased from the Original Plan

Earlier project concepts assumed the Town could purchase and renovate an existing building for approximately $10 million. After engaging architects and an Owner’s Project Manager, the Town concluded that assumption was not realistic given the requirements for a modern police facility and current construction costs.

The current proposal reflects updated design analysis, operational needs, code requirements, and construction market conditions.

Town Election Information

Town Meeting approved the funding article, but the project still requires voter approval through a debt exclusion vote at the Town Election.



The Town Election is Saturday, May 9, from 8AM - 6PM in the Deer Hill School Gym, 208 Sohier Street, Cohasset, MA

Email the Project Team

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.