Cohasset Public Safety: Enhancing Safety & Response
Hear directly from Cohasset Public Safety and Town leadership about the vision for this project.
23,600
Sq Ft
ADA Code
Compliant
Improves
Response Time
Building a Safer Future for Cohasset
Cohasset is advancing plans for a new 21,300 sq. ft. Public Safety Building at 135 King Street — a modern, mission-ready facility designed to serve the community for the next 50 years. This building will bring together the Police Department, a Fire Substation, an Emergency Operations Center, and a secure Town and School Data Center, replacing outdated facilities on Elm Street.
The project has been scaled back three times to control costs while meeting essential safety and compliance standards. With $10.4M already appropriated, voters will consider the remaining funding at the November 3, 2025 Special Town Meeting.
Top 5 Quick FAQs
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The current Elm Street station was built in 1962 and no longer meets modern safety, ADA, or staffing needs.
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A modern Police Department, a two-bay Fire Substation, an Emergency Operations Center/community room, and a secure Data Center for Town and Schools.
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The design is 21,300 sq. ft., scaled back three times to focus only on essential needs.
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$27.4 million — including the $10.4M already appropriated in 2023. The increase reflects required safety, ADA, and public safety infrastructure upgrades.
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If approved at the November 3, 2025, Special Town Meeting, construction could start as early as January 2026.
Questions? Contact the Town Manager’s Office or the Public Safety Chiefs. This page will be updated as new information becomes available.
Myth vs. Fact
Myth: The new Public Safety Building is oversized for a small town like Cohasset.
Fact: The building has been scaled back three times to eliminate non-essential features. At 21,300 sq. ft., it is right-sized to meet only the essential needs of police, fire, and emergency management.
Myth: The Town rushed into this project without planning.
Fact: The original $10.4M was approved in 2023 simply to secure the property. Since then, expert project managers, architects, and engineers have completed full code reviews, feasibility studies, and design revisions to ensure accuracy and transparency.
Myth: The cost keeps ballooning out of control.
Fact: The cost increase reflects mandatory safety requirements: upgrading to a Level IV essential facility, ADA compliance, secure evidence/holding areas, and backup systems. The project team has deliberately scaled back scope to control costs while protecting critical functionality.
Myth: Renovating 135 King Street is more expensive than starting fresh.
Fact: Renovating King Street remains more cost-effective than building a new facility from the ground up. It’s the only property in town large enough to support this consolidated facility.
Myth: This project only benefits the Police and Fire Departments.
Fact: It benefits the entire community by reducing emergency response times, strengthening Town and School cybersecurity, and providing an Emergency Operations Center for natural disasters and other crises.
