Iowa City police chief proposes southeast side substation

Police Chief Sam Hargadine wants to put a police substation in southeast Iowa City to help provide stability to a side of town with a reputation for criminal activity.

The substation would be in 1,485 square feet of office space at Pepperwood Plaza, a shopping center southwest of the Highway 6-Broadway Street intersection. It would be the city's only police substation.

Longtime resident Cindy Roberts, who is involved in the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association, said it's an excellent idea, especially in that location.

“That visibility factor and being close if there are situations that arise,” she said of the possible benefits.

The City Council will be asked to OK a lease for the property at its meeting July 12. Hargadine said the Police Department could be moved in by Aug 1.

The project would cost an estimated $86,535 for two years, and federal grant money and funding from the Iowa City Housing Authority would cover all but $24,000 of that, Hargadine said. The balance could come from the Police Department's drug seizure fund, he said.

Southgate Development Services LLC is the property manager for Pepperwood Plaza and has offered the space rent free for the first two years.

Hargadine said Southgateand real estate agents have encouraged the city to put a substation in southeast Iowa City to help ease the concerns potential customers and homebuyers have about the area.

“It's the first step in trying to turn around both the housing market and the commercial real estate market,” Hargadine said.

Jody Braverman, president of Southgate Development Services, said he thought the substation would be good for the shopping center, which is anchored by a Kmart, and residents and visitors alike.

Hargadine said he would consider moving Jorey Bailey, who as the department's crime prevention officer plays a key role in community policing efforts, to the substation. It would also be available for beat officers to use, and Hargadine would like to offer it as a spot for neighborhood meetings.

Henri Harper, who lives near the proposed substation site and is active in the area, particularly with juveniles, said he thought it could be a good thing. But that's if it's done with the involvement of area residents and is seen as a place to help them, not get them in trouble.

He said Bailey is very popular with neighborhood kids and liked Hargadine's idea of basing Bailey out of the substation and also using it for neighborhood meetings.

“If it's done correctly, it could be a great idea to soften that relationship with the community over there and the police,” Harper said.