APD one step closer to moving into former downtown LIO building

The Anchorage Assembly gave a green light Tuesday night for lease negotiations over the former Legislative Information Office building to move forward between the Anchorage Police Department and the Anchorage Community Development Authority.

The 10-1 vote moves APD one step closer to moving into a new downtown headquarters in the former former LIO building.

Anchorage Police Chief Justin Doll said the downtown location is ideal for the police department, and will help push forward the city's plan to have core government agencies centrally located downtown.

"Most of the people who are going to be using office space at 716 (716 West 4th Ave.) are detectives and a lot of other investigative type units, and being located within a couple of blocks the courthouse and the DA's office and all of our federal partners," Chief Doll said Tuesday night.

Assembly member Amy Demboski spoke against approving the lease negotiations, saying the price tag was too high for a lease.

"This administration is going ahead and saying 'Go ahead and take 2.3 million dollars out of your operating budget,'" Demboski said. "From a fiscal perspective, if you are really wanting to buy that building, buy the dang building."

In June, the Anchorage Assembly

for $14 million.