Burbank Jail Is Nearing Completion

The final renovations are being made to the Burbank Police Department, Jail and Fire Headquarters in Burbank, California. This is great news for both the police officers and firefighters of the city. Offenders who are arrested in Burbank will soon be booked at the Burbank Jail again. Currently, Burbank Police Officers have to transport anyone they arrest to the Glendale Jail.

The Burbank facility first opened in 1998. Only two years after it opened, spot repairs became necessary throughout the building. Repairs were constantly needed in the police and jail facility up through 2008. At that time, major renovations were agreed on by city officials in order to bring the facility back into good condition.

Water damage in the facility was discovered soon after it opened. In 2000, the water damage was even more noticeable on the shower walls in the firefighter locker room. Leaks were also found throughout the parking garage and other areas. Repairs were also needed to the concrete flooring in the building, particularly in the area of the police department and jail.

The concrete flooring in the jail, which is sub-terrain, was found to be too thin in some areas. Repairs would mean completely removing and then reinstalling the limestone floors in order to make them more supportive.

The City of Burbank filed suit against Kajima Construction Services, the original contractor for the project, in 2008. The city felt that the damages were a direct result of the substandard workmanship of the contractor. The suit was settled that August with Kajima for $3.16 million. WLC Architects also paid $475,000 as part of the settlement.

The work on the jail area of the facility was the most complicated part of the renovation. All of the concrete flooring had to be replaced. In order to do so, everything had to be removed from the jail, including everything that has to do with securing the jail, electronic-locks, doors, security, etc. Once the floor is replaced, the entire jail will have to be rewired.

With the Burbank Jail under construction, inmates could not be housed at the facility. Instead, officers have been transporting anyone arrested to the Glendale Jail. The time spent driving arrestees takes away from the response time for local calls. Having the Burbank Jail open again will be a great relief to all of the officers.

Until the Burbank Jail opens next year, anyone who needs to post bail anyone arrested by the Burbank Police Department will have to do so at the Glendale Jail. Burbank jailers are working at the Glendale facility until the reopening. When a bail bondsman needs to post bail for someone at the Glendale Jail, the bondsman needs to specify if he is there for Burbank Bail Bonds or Glendale Bail Bonds.

It is believed that the current project will be completed by the end of March 2012, nearly a year from the start of the final phase of renovations. The estimated total cost of the reconstruction is $9.5 million. The final phase of the project is funded by redevelopment monies. The beginning phase was covered by money from the Capital Projects Holding Account.

Last Updated:  11/20/2011