Politics & Government
Pierce County Council Votes To Sell Former Police Station To Church For $1 Million
First Baptist Church of Lakewood intends to use the 12,400-square-foot building and its 2,600-square-foot garage as a community center.
Pierce County has approved the sale of a vacant building to a Lakewood church that intends to use it as a community center.
The County Council voted 5-1 today to authorize the sale of the property, located at 5504 112th St. SW, to First Baptist Church of Lakewood. The sale price is $1 million.
The property is just under 3 acres and includes a 12,400-square-foot building and 2,600-square-foot garage. It operated for more than 20 years as a police building, first as the West Precinct of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department. The City of Lakewood then leased the building from the county after the city formed its own police department. The building has been vacant since 2009, when Lakewood police moved into a new building.
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The new owner has announced plans to use the building for church and youth activities, a food bank and, eventually, housing for homeless teens.
County leaders praised the sale as a benefit to all taxpayers, as well as youth and families in Lakewood.
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"It was costing county taxpayers $75,000 a year to maintain this vacant building," said County Executive Pat McCarthy, who signed the sale agreement in September and forwarded it to the Council for approval. "Not only are we saving taxpayers' money, but we're also paving the way for important resources in the Lakewood area. I applaud First Baptist Church's willingness to see this as an opportunity to expand its contribution to the community."
"It has been three years since the idea to surplus the West Precinct in Lakewood was first brought forth, but finally we have a 'win-win' plan," said County Councilmember Dick Muri (District 6), whose district includes Lakewood. "Pierce County government receives a fair price for its property, and the proposed community resource facility will enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Lakewood."
The sale is expected to close by the end of the year. One provision of the sale is the county will remove an underground fuel tank.
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