NEW LAPD HQ COSTS SKYROCKET UPDATED ESTIMATES NEARLY $100 MILLION OVER ORIGINAL.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

The cost to build a new headquarters for the LAPD has increased to as much as $285 million, or almost $100 million more than earlier estimates, officials said Thursday.

In December, officials had estimated the cost of replacing Parker Center at $150 million to $190 million for a 300,000-square-foot building.

Since then, city officials have studied the possibility of consolidating police functions now housed in leased buildings scattered throughout downtown into a 350,000- to 500,000-square-foot building. That structure would cost $215 million to $285 million to build, they said.

And if the Los Angeles Police Department immediately seeks a new temporary headquarters rather than waiting for a new building, relocation costs could range from $20 million to $30 million, plus $7 million to $9 million per year in lease costs, according to earlier estimates from other officials and consultants.

Councilman Nate Holden said officials should not be considering such a large expense to taxpayers at a time when the city and state are facing a major budget crisis, and as crime is rising.

``They're crazy,'' Holden said. ``It's not their money - and they get paid so well, they won't even feel the impact on their own personal pocketbooks.''

The city would finance the construction by issuing bonds that do not require voter approval. The debt would be repaid at an annual cost of $15 million to $19 million from the city's general fund.

Holden argued that the money would be better spent hiring more police officers and fighting crime, while renovating the existing Parker Center.

``Unborn generations will still be paying off that building from the general fund,'' Holden said. ``It's not only an abuse against the taxpayers who are now living, but for their grandchildren who are now unborn.''

Most other city and Police Department officials, however, concur that Parker Center, built in 1955, has outlived its usefulness and should be vacated as soon as feasible, and that renovating it would be more expensive than replacing it.

The building has deteriorating systems, a lack of space, cracks in the walls and a noticeable lean to one side, among other problems. The Police Commission on Nov. 26 had voted to try to begin vacating the building within 90 days, but that seems unlikely at this point.

``The mayor believes that Parker Center in its current state has outlived its usefulness and we need to upgrade and modernize our facilities,'' said Julie Wong, spokeswoman for Mayor James Hahn. ``We want an outside firm that specializes in this kind of construction to verify these would be the costs.''

At the same time, some city officials, particularly council members from the San Fernando Valley, hope to decentralize certain functions to areas outside downtown, including the Valley.

LAPD officials, however, have expressed reluctance to move any functions away from downtown.

The Municipal Facilities Committee recommended to the City Council that it give preliminary approval for a 350,000- to 500,000-square-foot project, costing no more than $285 million, and continue studying how much space the LAPD needs.

The committee also recommends hiring a consultant to verify cost estimates and study the LAPD's space needs and the possibility of decentralizing some functions.

The city next must decide whether to move the LAPD into a temporary location during construction, or consider minor renovations to Parker Center.