The south side of Forest Park may soon have a police substation.
The Board of Commissioners on Monday voted 3-2 to buy a blighted brick apartment building at 1000 Beloit Ave., with intentions of creating a police substation.
But not everyone thinks the $330,000 expenditure is a good idea. Commissioner Patrick Doolin questioned whether a substation is really needed in a village that has only about 2.25 square miles, much of that comprised of cemeteries.
“There’s no place in this town a police officer can’t get in 30 to 45 seconds with lights and sirens,” Doolin said.
Doolin and Commissioner Terry Steinbach also questioned how much the renovation would cost and how the upper floors of the building would be used.
Doolin also said that if the area needs a police substation, the village could use another village-owned lot two blocks away and build one for substantially less.
Mayor Anthony Calderone said the rehabilitation costs are unknown and it still has not been decided how the entire building would be used or if a police substation will be feasible.
Calderone said the purchase is a chance to help the neighbors solve a problem.