BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — As the City of Buffalo moves forward with plans to build a $5 million police training facility, opinions in the Queen City are sharply divided. The site of the proposed project is the old American Legion Adam Plewacki Post No. 799 building, located across from the Centra l Terminal. The building, which has been vacant for over a year and a half, was originally constructed in 1948 and is currently owned by the city. Over the last six years, the Buffalo Common Council has approved $5 million in bonds to fund the renovation of the site into a shooting range and training facility for the Buffalo Police Department. While some local leaders and residents see this as a long-overdue investment in public safety, others argue the money could be better spent addressing deeper community needs. “Neighborhood residents have been asking for an additional police presence for decades,” said Chris Hawley of the Central Terminal Neighborhood Association. “This may end up being a money saver for the city over the long run, and if it results in improved police-community relations, then all the merrier.” Currently, Buffalo pays neighboring police departments nearly $200,000 annually to use their training facilities. Fillmore District Council Member Mitch Nowakowski believes that bringing these activities in-house could reduce costs and improve operational efficiency. However, not everyone is on board with the plan. The community organization "Liberation for One, Liberation for All" is actively opposing the project. It argues that the funds would be better directed toward initiatives like affordable housing, mental health services, education, and youth programs. “We feel that those things need to be invested in -- things that the community wants to be invested in -- versus investing in a police training facility on the East Side,” said Alia Williams, a representative of LOLA. LOLA is currently circulating a petition to halt construction of the facility. The group has until April 18 to collect 18,000 signatures, which it plans to present to the Buffalo Common Council. As part of this effort, the group is hosting an information and signature event on Wednesday, April 16, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Isaias Gonzalez-Soto Library on Porter Avenue. Despite opposition, supporters of the project emphasize the positive impact they believe the new facility could have on the surrounding community. “I think residents are finally happy to see that this will take place,” said Hawley. “We’ll see an additional police presence here in Broadway-Fillmore. The neighborhood is turning around. It’s getting better.” Nowakowski released a statement calling the project an “adaptive reuse of a long-vacant site that improves public safety and has strong support from the neighborhood.” He also emphasized that the planned training activities will not create noise or disrupt the surrounding area. Still, opponents like Williams are calling for greater transparency. “We are asking that the Common Council do a public hearing on the facility,” she said. “A lot of people don’t know that the city is trying to build it.” Latest Local News Differing opinions on proposed police training facility Rainbow Air Helicopter Tours emphasizes safety after New York City crash Fire causes estimated $460K in damage to Clarence home Former Congressman John LaFalce dies at 85 Groveland Correction Officer found dead in state housing Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter. ...read more read less