The city is finalizing a more than $3 million lease for forensics evidence storage due to the delayed opening of the $32.2 million Public Safety Warehouse Project in Southeast Austin. (Ben Thompson/Community Impact)
Austin could spend more than $3 million on a new forensics evidence storage facility lease due to the delayed opening of its Public Safety Warehouse.
The setup
The city budgeted about $46 million in 2024 to buy the new warehouse at 11708 McAngus Road, Bldg. 4., Austin. The more than 14-acre facility is expected to support multiple public safety departments including Austin Emergency Management, Austin Fire, Austin Police, Austin/Travis County Emergency Medical Services and Austin Forensic Science, including evidence storage.
The Southeast Austin site requires several fixes before those departments can move in. A warranty claim issue—a leaky roof—was identified last February, and as of this summer the city is still assessing subsurface conditions across the warehouse property.
The city is still assessing site conditions at its Public Safety Warehouse facility. (Courtesy city of Austin)
Just over $2 million of the warehouse project's $32.2 million budget has been used so far for design, permitting and electrical equipmentdesigns, permitting and electrical equipment, an Austin Financial Services spokesperson said. The city currently doesn't have an expected timeline for completing the warehouse build-out.
What's happening
While that project's opening is delayed, forensics evidence control at two other city facilities is now nearing or at capacity. Officials agreed to open another warehouse next door to one of those properties due to urgent storage space and staffing needs.
City Council advanced a lease of up to five years and $3.35 million for 44,000 square feet at 4405 Springdale Road on Aug. 27. It's adjacent to an existing 50,000-square-foot evidence warehouse at the city-owned 4708 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Austin.
City staff reported "no other viable options currently exist" for Austin Forensic Science's unique needs.
"The proposed property is located next door to the current MLK evidence warehouse, making it an ideal location that would reduce time spent on inventory management between the buildings," city agenda materials stated. "[L]easing of this facility would enhance the safety, security, and integrity of the evidence and ensure the health and safety of City employees by addressing overcrowding and staffing shortages related to the disposal of eligible items."
Forensics evidence control will move into the new space once safety and security upgrades there are completed.
The cost
Austin could pay between $628,649-$714,105 annually for the Springdale Road facility through August 2031, including both rent and other operating expenses. A third-party appraisal supported the proposed lease terms, according to the city. The property will be leased from Richard Springdale LLC of North Hollywood, California.
Just over $52,000 is available in the forensic department's budget for the current fiscal year 2025-26, which runs through September. The required $628,649 hasn't yet been identified in the city's recently-approved FY 2026-27 budget, the financial services spokesperson said.
More than 44,000 square feet of space on Springdale Road will be rented for Austin forensics evidence storage while the city's Public Safety Warehouse Project is delayed. (Courtesy city of Austin)
