Ground breaking held for new Hilltop police substation

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Officials celebrated the start of construction for the new police substation in the Hilltop neighborhood within Columbus. 

The substation will serve the Columbus Division of Police 8 Precinct with a two-story, 13,500 square-foot facility at 1860 Sullivant Avenue. It is scheduled to open in Nov. 2026.

“Columbus is the safest it’s been in more than a decade, with violent crime down significantly and our case-closure rates leading the nation. This is thanks to exceptional policing, improved community engagement and access to new crime-fighting tools and technologies,” said Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther, D-Ohio, in a news release. “This substation will continue our progress by helping Hilltop officers connect frequently with the residents they serve.”

The ground breaking was held Tuesday for the new substation. (Spectrum News 1/Emani Payne)

Funding for the $13.9 million substation was secured through voter-approved municipal bond sales that make up part of Columbus’ Capital Improvement Budget. The new facility will be nearly seven times larger than the current substation and feature a 1,500 square-foot community room, expanded parking, office spaces and work by local artists. It will also be an emergency storm shelter for the area.

“This building will be so much more than brick and mortar,” said Columbus Police Chief Elaine Bryant. “It’s an investment in stronger police-community collaboration and a space where officers and neighbors can solve problems together. It’s the space our officers and our dedicated Hilltop community partners deserve.”

The facility will be the first city substation to include a dedicated space for detectives with interview rooms for investigations and will be home to nearly 84 sworn officers across all shifts. Officers will include the Zone 3 commander, detectives, lieutenants, sergeants, officers, a community response team and a community liaison. There will be an officer fitness room, police bicycle storage and maintenance and a mothers’ nursing/decompression room. 

BBCO Design is serving as the architect of record, and Smoot Construction will build the substation. The four-acre site of the project was purchased from the state. 

Officials said the interior of the current Hilltop substation is under renovation and will continue to serve both Hilltop and Franklinton.