Eastpointe is gearing up to swap its aging, 1960s-era police station and court for a brand-new, two-story complex on Nine Mile Road, a move city officials say is long overdue. The project, now pegged at roughly $22 million, will bundle police operations and the 38th District Court under one roof, add a separate on-site firearms training range, and expand courtroom and probation space. City documents and engineering plans show work stretching into 2026, with the old building to be torn down in phases once the new setup is ready.
According to the Detroit Free Press, recent budget figures pushed the overall price tag to around $22 million, higher than early talk suggested. The outlet reports that the design pulls the police department and 38th District Court into a single modern facility with updated security and court amenities that the current building simply cannot match.
City planning documents from the City of Eastpointe note that the state has already committed $8 million toward the project and that a city development committee has been steering schematic designs. Earlier on, engineering estimates were closer to $17.5 million, a reminder of how the budget has climbed as blueprints turned into construction-ready plans.
Where And When Construction Will Happen
As laid out in filings from the Michigan Senate, the new complex will sit just east of the current station on Nine Mile Road. The state list puts the existing facility at 16083 9 Mile Road, with the new project planned for 16127 and 16147 9 Mile Road. Those documents indicate design work was nearly wrapped up this spring, with the city eyeing bids in mid-2026, a construction start in June or July 2026, and completion targeted for spring 2028.
Gun Range And The Budget Debate
The on-site gun range has turned into one of the most hotly debated pieces of the plan, mostly because of the extra gear and ventilation systems it needs. C&G Newspapers reported that the range alone is expected to cost about $900,000. Eastpointe Police Chief Corey Haines told council members that skipping the range and sending officers to an outside facility would run the city roughly $97,000 a year, a tradeoff that split the council during a May vote. Mayor Michael Klinefelt summed it up by calling the range’s cost a hefty price tag.
Bids, Permits And Next Steps
According to the city’s bid posting on BidNet Direct, Eastpointe opened an invitation-for-bid earlier this spring that required a mandatory pre-bid conference at the future site. Proposals are due by May 21, 2026, and must be filed with the clerk’s office. The bid documents confirm that the winning contractor will be responsible for demolishing the existing building and handling new site improvements along with the new construction.
What The New Court Will Add
The 38th District Court is set to gain enough room for a second full-time judge and dedicated space for a drug, sobriety, and mental-health docket, plus more offices for probation staff and defense attorneys. The current 1960-era building will be torn down and that parcel converted to parking once the new complex is up and running.
Backers on the council argue that consolidating police and court operations will modernize public safety and cut recurring training costs over time. Critics counter that the rising budget, especially for nonessential components, is reason enough to slow down until finances look steadier. City officials say final contract awards and permit approvals will return to the council later this year, and that residents can track design packets and meeting minutes on the City of Eastpointe project page.
