Mayor Duggan, Chief White & community celebrate ribbon cutting for 8th Precinct Annex

• Annex will serve as headquarters for 8th Precinct's Neighborhood Police Officers
• Residents, Council President Pro Tem Tate fought to save historic former library, which also will be available for community events, meetings and more
• $2M annex renovation is second phase of new 8th Precinct buildout

Following years of conservation efforts, rehabilitation work and hopeful calls from the community, the City of Detroit and Detroit Police Department officially opened the DPD's 8th Precinct Annex with a celebratory ribbon cutting.

"We promised Council Member James Tate and the 8th Precinct community we would bring this building back to life and ensure residents will be able to enjoy it for generations to come," said Mayor Mike Duggan. "It's taken us some time, but today that promise has been kept."

Community leaders joined city officials to cut the ribbon on the 8th Precinct Community Annex.

The annex, which is Phase 2 of the 8th Precinct renovation project, will now serve as the main workspace for the 8th Precinct's Neighborhood Police Officers (NPOs). These officers respond to quality of life concerns, assisting residents with many issues that do not rise to the level of emergency response. They also hold events in the community, and are one of the DPD's most visible and accessible units for community leaders and neighbors.

"Our Neighborhood Police Officers do a fantastic job of being there for our community members and working to ensure we are responding to issues impacting the residents who help us keep our city safe," said Chief James E. White. "Opening this space will help us remain open and welcoming to our residents, and serve as a symbol of our continued partnership with this community."
The space will also be open for residents to reserve for events, further strengthening the bond between the DPD and the neighborhoods it serves.

Council President Pro Tem James Tate, Mayor Duggan and Chief White spoke to a room packed full of community members excited about the building's opening.

"Much time, effort and attention to detail was necessary in transforming this historic building into a new home for city resources and event space for community-related activities," said Detroit City Council President Pro Tem James Tate. "The preserved 8th Precinct Annex stands as a beacon of hope, symbolizing the unity and true community spirit you find throughout our neighborhoods. I'm excited for the continued community-building and partnerships that will further arise from this renewed local landmark."

Extensive work has been done to preserve historic features of the Annex, including the wood carved "open book" detail on the balcony wood trim. The Detroit Historic Commission approved renovation of the roof slate, restoration of the visible windowpanes, copper gutters and downspouts, and the addition of the ADA ramp on the façade. With the addition of the ADA ramp, an elevator, and restrooms, the building has been brought up to ADA standards.

Council President Pro Tem James Tate thanked Mayor Duggan and the Detroit Police Department for the collaboration to preserve this beautiful building for the community to enjoy.

"This community made it clear they wanted to preserve the historic nature of this beautiful building," said Detroit Building Authority Director Tyrone Clifton. "We were able to renovate the original structure and save many of the building's features thanks to the hard work of our team in partnership with the Detroit Historic Commission."

The 8th Precinct Annex was originally built as the Redford Village Hall in 1925. It was converted to the Redford Branch Library in 1926 when it was annexed by the City of Detroit. It was slated to be demolished along with the old Redford High School, but the city and developer reached an agreement to save it and another pre-existing building to use for the 8th Precinct.

Phase 1 of this project included the $5.9 million renovation of what is now the 8th Precinct. Just over $2 million of general fund money was allocated for Phase 2 of this project. Both were led by the Detroit Building Authority with the lead contractor Detroit-based minority-owned Jenkins Construction. Detroit-headquartered, minority-owned architecture firm, SDG Design also played a key role in the building's renovation.

Community Member Peggy Noble (aka Mother Noble) praised the city for bringing the 8th Precinct back to the neighborhood and creating this great space. She is planning for College Park Community Association to hold the first community meeting in the newly renovated building. Mayor Duggan remarked the Annex should be named for Council President Pro Tem James Tate, without whom the building would have likely been demolished.

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