One part of Waukegan’s police station, adjacent to City Hall, was built in 1935, and the other portion was erected beside it 60 years ago. They were connected to each other. Neither resembles what a 21st-century law enforcement facility should look like.

Discussions about building a new police station have continued for several months as potential locations were considered. Mayor Sam Cunningham said the city does not have enough vacant land to place one.

City officials are in discussions with the owners of 5.6 acres of now vacant land at 200 North Green Bay Road, where a onetime Ramada Inn was abandoned in 2018 by its then owners and a complete demolition was completed in July. Police Chief Edgar Navarro likes the location.

Storage facilities at the Waukegan Police Station are aging as the city considers a new building. (Photo courtesy of the City of Waukegan)

“It’s centrally located in the city with easy access in all directions at Green Bay (Road) and Washington Street,” Navarro said. “It’s just about equidistant for dispatch in all directions. We’ll build it with our community in mind.”

The Waukegan City Council voted unanimously on Monday at City Hall to hold additional discussions on the possible purchase of the former Ramada Inn property at 7 p.m. on Jan. 20 at City Hall, pending satisfactory discussions with the property owners.

“If we can make a deal which is satisfactory to the city and its taxpayers, we see 200 North Green Bay as a possible location for a new police station,” Cunningham said after Monday’s meeting.

While Navarro said no plans are being drawn until a location is certain, he has a vision of what he wants to see in a new building. It is not dependent on any particular location. Along with the usual furnishings of a police station, he wants to see a community room.

“It will be large enough for community meetings,” Navarro said. “The aldermen can meet there. It will be a place where we can have all types of community events. There is no set plan yet. We are waiting until we have a site for the building.”

Along with the community room, Navarro said some needs can be better met in a new, state-of-the-art police station. A room reserved for officer wellness is a must as well as a training room and a room for police lineups. Space for officers to take a break is also important.

“We don’t have any of that now,” he said.

Josh May, Cunningham’s chief of staff, said modernization is a must.

“We have a 20th Century building, and we need to have one for the 21st Century,” May said.

Narrow hallways are part of the aging Waukegan Police Station as the city considers building a new one. (Photo courtesy of the City of Waukegan)

With a consensus among the council members, a new police station is needed, Cunningham said there will be an effort to find the right location — either at Green Bay and Washington or another spot — to build it. It may remove a property from the tax rolls, but the city has no land to place it.

“It’s needed in our community as we rebuild Waukegan,” Cunningham said. “We all agree it’s a necessity. It’s something we need to do for our residents, our businesses and our business partners.”

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/16/waukegan-city-council-new-police-station/