ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Asheville officials say a new police resource center at Tanger Outlets will provide a safer, more functional space for officers while maintaining police services in West Asheville, responding to questions about the city’s public safety investments and long-term capital priorities.
The response comes after a West Asheville resident raised questions about the city’s decision to lease private property for the Asheville Police Department rather than renovate the existing police resource center at 970 Haywood Road or build a city-owned facility.
According to city documents, the Haywood Road building was constructed in 1953 as a combined fire station and library before being converted into a police resource center in 1999. Officials say the aging facility no longer meets modern public safety standards…