Greensboro Police Moving to Former IRS Building | News

The Greensboro Police Department is moving its headquarters by the end of the year, city officials announced Wednesday.

Assistant city manager Mike Speedling said the department will move to the former IRS building, located at 320 Federal Place. Police currently have a small headquarters inside the Melvin Municipal Building.

The city will resume control of the 100,000 square-foot building from the federal government at a cost of $1, but it will need renovations costing $900,000 over three years. The renovations, which should only take months to complete, include fixing windows and carpets, Speedling said.

Half of the renovation money was already in the police budget, while the other half will come from money seized during drug arrests, Speedling said.

Speedling said there will be a groundbreaking ceremony in September.

The building is valued at $20 million and has 200 parking spaces. It will allow evidence to be kept in the same building, which will save time and money for police investigations, Speedling said.

The Central Division, which patrols downtown nightlife among other things, will move into the building as well. It has been sharing space with the Southern Division headquarters on S. Elm-Eugene Street, Speedling said.

The city submitted its plan for the building 18 months ago. Elon University's School of Law also submitted an application to take over the building, but federal officials decided to give it to GPD instead, Speedling said.