Concord stands at a defining moment, and how we respond today will shape the safety, dignity and unity of this city for generations. I understand why many residents are hesitant. Taxes are high. Families are stretched thin. And major projects, the middle school, Memorial Field, and now the police headquarters, are all competing for the same public trust.
But after studying this proposal in full and touring the current station at 35 Green St. myself, I can say with certainty: supporting the new police headquarters is not only the right decision, it is the responsible one, the strategic one and the only one that protects us from even greater costs, risks and failures down the line.
When I walked through 35 Green St., I did not see a building that could continue serving a city of nearly 45,000 people. I saw cramped hallways doubling as storage, evidence rooms scattered across small basements, unsafe detainee transport routes and public spaces that do not reflect the dignity victims deserve when they arrive seeking help. I saw locker rooms from another era, an outdated lobby, no accessible public restroom and a building stretched beyond what any modern police department could reasonably function inside. This is not a political statement. It is reality. And doing nothing is not free — it is a decision to accept greater financial and safety consequences later.
Concord has already invested millions into this project. The city purchased 4 Bouton St., completed roughly 60% of the design and approved more than $3 million for pre-construction. Construction is currently estimated at $45.5 million, with a total project cost near $53 million. These numbers can feel overwhelming, but delaying does not make them smaller. Construction inflation continues to rise by about 4% to 5% per year after double-digit spikes in 2022. Waiting two more years could add several million dollars to the same building. That is not fiscal responsibility. That is fiscal harm.
Some fear that supporting this project means neglecting youth, schools or community services. But the evidence is clear: safe communities require strong policing and strong investments in mental health, education, housing stability and youth programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention consistently shows that community safety is a public health issue. A modern police building is not a replacement for upstream prevention — it is a foundation that supports it.
When officers are not wasting time navigating outdated layouts, they spend more time building relationships, mentoring youth and responding to those who need help. Concord’s current station was built in the 1970s for a smaller, quieter city. Since then, calls for service have risen 112%, the population has grown by nearly 14,000 people, and the police force has increased by 50%. Yet the building remains just 21,000 square feet. The proposed headquarters, about 72,800 square feet, aligns with national standards and reflects what similar cities across the country are now building. Its estimated cost of roughly $625 per square foot is consistent with today’s specialized safety-facility costs. This is not Concord overspending. This is Concord catching up.
I say this as someone who knows what it means to navigate the world as a young Black man, someone who has experienced moments of fear, someone who works with youth who question whether the system will ever see them. Supporting this project is not turning my back on those experiences. It is acknowledging that safety and justice must coexist. It is choosing a future where victims are treated with dignity, where officers operate transparently, and where accountability is built into the facility itself. A modern station is not simply a building, it is a public commitment to do better through design, through access, through community centered services.
The tax impacts are real. No leader should hide them. But they are manageable if we act now: about $31 per year for a $400,000 home in 2026, $194 in 2027, and $420 in 2028. These numbers sound steep, but delaying would likely push them even higher. And as we invest in schools and youth spaces, we must invest in the safety infrastructure that supports them. A city that expects excellence from its police must give them the tools to work safely, transparently and professionally.
This is the moment for Concord to show discipline and vision. We can support this project while demanding cost reductions through value engineering, energy efficiency incentives, and phasing of non-critical features. We can build this station while simultaneously committing to youth programs, mental health partnerships, and neighborhood-level supports. We can honor taxpayers and strengthen public safety at the same time.
I support this project because it is necessary, it is urgent, and waiting only makes the burden heavier. Concord deserves a future where every resident, child, parent, officer and survivor can walk into a public safety building and feel safe, respected and protected. We cannot achieve that in the building we have. We can only achieve it by moving forward, now, with clarity, courage, accountability and unity.
Fisto Ndayishimiye is a refugee, community organizer and youth leader based in Concord. He is the co-founder and executive director of the Young Adults Development Network, founder and director of Importance Leadership, and founder of One Concord.