LAWTON — The old Lawton police station has been reduced to rubble.
Demolition of the 57-year-old building began on May 15, and restoration of the site is to be finished within 90 days, by mid-August. Asbestos had to be removed from the building before demolition could proceed.
K&M Dirt Services of Oklahoma City was awarded a $289,681 contract on the job.
The police station was constructed in 1964 and was in use until two years ago, when the police department moved into a new facility on Gore Boulevard just south of Second Street. The new 106,778-square-foot Lawton Public Safety Building houses the police station, fire station, municipal court, and the municipal jail.
The old police station had several problems, including mold, sewer problems, and even fire damage.
It would have required a significant investment of money to repair, but even then the building would not have been fully functional. Moving into a new building was the better option.
“We are going 3 or 4 feet below the grade,” Lawton Civil Engineer Shivani Rani said. “We are going to smooth out the plot and leave it for any plans Lawton has for it.”
“We could put a new building on it if they choose to, or even make it into a parking lot,” Deputy Chief Will Hines said. “There is no limit to what can be done with the plot.”